Process tracing and non-state violent actors: ensuring methodological rigor in the study of non-state violent actors (without getting yourself killed)

Julie Mazzei and Sweta Sen

Small Wars and Insurgencies, 2025, vol. 36, issue 2, 269-298

Abstract: Study of non-state violent actors can be impeded by a variety of challenges inherent to the these organizations. Methodologies not well-suited to these dynamics may result in peril for the researcher and/or her subjects, and lead to perhaps less rigorous findings. We argue here that the ontology of process tracing is conducive to highly rigorous and safe examination of NSVAs. Here, we highlight a collection of data collection strategies that are particularly useful in this research; introduce and evaluate the rigor of triangulating across data voices; and introducing the term evidentiary heterogeneity to emphasize the value of diversifying data sources across cases.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/09592318.2024.2436689

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