Journal Article

A Pragmatist Approach to Causality in Ethnography

Tavory, Iddo, Timmermans, Stefan

2013

Overview

Drawing on early pragmatist theorizing, the authors propose three interrelated methodological activities for the construction of robust causal claims in ethnographic research. First, Charles S. Peirce's semiotic approach offers ethnographers a useful foundation for a mechanism-based approach to causality by tracing iterations of meaning-making-in-action. Second, taking advantage of the structure of Peirce's semiotics ethnographers can examine three forms of observed variation to distinguish regularly occurring causal sequences and temporally and spatially remote causal processes. Third, the authors emphasize that the standards to evaluate causal arguments -- their plausibility and assessments of explanatory fit -- are always made in relation to challenges provided within a disciplinary community of inquiry. The use-value of the pragmatic approach to causality is demonstrated with an explanation of the different reactions of parents and clinicians to positive newborn screening results. Adapted from the source document.

• Publisher: University of Chicago Press,University of Chicago, acting through its Press
• Subject: Causality / Ethnographers / Ethnographic research / Ethnography / History, theory and methodology / Infants / Medical screening / Methodology / Newborn babies / Parents / Pragmatics / Pragmatism / Research methodology / Semiotics / Sequences / Sociology / Tests