Process Tracing Methods

About

This course provides an overview of the rationale and application of process tracing, and gives you the required knowledge and tools to use the methodology in your own research. Process tracing is a particularly suitable method to study causal mechanisms, i.e. how a trigger leads to a specific outcome, and allows us to open the ‘black box’ of causality.

ECTS Credits
3 ECTS credits awarded for engaging fully in class activities.
1 additional ECTS credit awarded for completing a post-course assignment

Course leader

Wouter Wolfs is a Lecturer and Senior Researcher at the Public Governance Institute of the KU Leuven. His research is focused on EU politics, political finance, the organisation of political parties and parliaments, and legislative capacity-building. He is an experienced tutor and has applied a process tracing methodology extensively in his own research.

Target group

Social science researchers

Course aim

The aim of the course is to introduce you to the key aspects of process tracing through practical, hands-on advice and techniques that can be applied in your own research project. You will gain the practical research skills needed to navigate the intricacies of developing a process tracing research design. The course therefore requires active participation, and you’ll get most benefit by integrating aspects of your own research into the exercises.

By the end of this course, you will have the required insight into when process tracing can be used and how it can be applied most effectively

Fee info