What’s Wrong With What’s Wrong With Variable Analysis?Variable Analysis?

Nick CrossleyNick Crossley

What’s wrong with variable What’s wrong with variable analysis?analysis?• A brief account of some of the main A brief account of some of the main

criticisms of variable analysis in the criticisms of variable analysis in the literature.literature.

• Criticisms which at least imply that Criticisms which at least imply that case studies are better.case studies are better.

• Chief sources:- network analysis, Chief sources:- network analysis, Abbott, critical realism, symbolic Abbott, critical realism, symbolic interactionism.interactionism.

• Time restraints mean that I only give Time restraints mean that I only give one side of the story as an ‘all or one side of the story as an ‘all or nothing’ caricature.nothing’ caricature.

What is variable analysis?What is variable analysis?• Survey based.Survey based.

• Usually random samples (some variety Usually random samples (some variety of).of).

• Usually aiming to be representative.Usually aiming to be representative.

• Deriving and exploring the statistical Deriving and exploring the statistical relations between multiple variables.relations between multiple variables.

11• Variable analysis (VA) presupposes an Variable analysis (VA) presupposes an

empiricist definition of causality as empiricist definition of causality as ‘constant conjuncture’ (Hume).‘constant conjuncture’ (Hume).

• Because it only deals with the conjuncture Because it only deals with the conjuncture of variables.of variables.

• A proper account of causality makes A proper account of causality makes reference to mechanisms which explain reference to mechanisms which explain conjuncture but may not be self-evident conjuncture but may not be self-evident on the basis of it.on the basis of it.

• In complex and open systems robust In complex and open systems robust causal mechanisms may fail to generate causal mechanisms may fail to generate constant conjunctures and thus be missedconstant conjunctures and thus be missed

• So constant conjuncture is neither So constant conjuncture is neither sufficient nor necessary to causality and sufficient nor necessary to causality and VA is founded on a false premise.VA is founded on a false premise.

• At the very least we need to supplement At the very least we need to supplement VA with methods which are more VA with methods which are more sensitive to the detection of causal sensitive to the detection of causal mechanisms.mechanisms.

• Also bearing in mind that VA will not Also bearing in mind that VA will not alert us to all of the causal relations to alert us to all of the causal relations to be found in the social world (since some be found in the social world (since some fail to generate CC in open/complex fail to generate CC in open/complex systemssystems

• But variable analysis and surveys are But variable analysis and surveys are invaluable tools for the description of:invaluable tools for the description of:

• Patterns (e.g. of inequality)Patterns (e.g. of inequality)

• Trends Trends

• CorrelationsCorrelations

• That we do want to know about and That we do want to know about and seek to explain.seek to explain.

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• VA is at odds with our main theoretical VA is at odds with our main theoretical models of explanation.models of explanation.

• The latter focus upon relations and The latter focus upon relations and interactions between actors, not interactions between actors, not variables.variables.

• Variables don’t do anything in the social Variables don’t do anything in the social world. They are external constructs – at world. They are external constructs – at best proxies.best proxies.

• The actor and her causal powers fall out The actor and her causal powers fall out of the picture in variable analysis.of the picture in variable analysis.

• We need methods more attuned to our We need methods more attuned to our theories.theories.

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• Variable analysis is insensitive to the Variable analysis is insensitive to the lived world (lifeworld) of social actors, to lived world (lifeworld) of social actors, to their:their:

• IdentitiesIdentities• Classificatory SchemasClassificatory Schemas• Situational definitions etc.Situational definitions etc.

• All of which are key to the mechanics of All of which are key to the mechanics of their actions.their actions.

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• VA treats social structures (e.g. VA treats social structures (e.g. class) as individual attributes.class) as individual attributes.

• Thereby ignoring the social Thereby ignoring the social relationships ordinarily taken to be relationships ordinarily taken to be constitutive of structure.constitutive of structure.

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• The ‘average’ wo/man, sought out by The ‘average’ wo/man, sought out by samples, is a myth.samples, is a myth.

• Screening out bias often screens out Screening out bias often screens out what is important.what is important.

• Social life involves multiple Social life involves multiple particularities.particularities.

• Social analysis should address itself to Social analysis should address itself to these particularities and to the these particularities and to the universality evident in particularity.universality evident in particularity.