Employing multi-method analysis to study nuclear weapons proliferation

In: SAGE Research Methods. Cases

Abstract

This case study reveals the process for researching and publishing a multi-method article on nuclear weapons proliferation. It explains how the author identified an interesting research question, drawing from a contemporary U.S. foreign policy debate about how best to combat the spread of nuclear weapons. The case study then explains how to locate existing quantitative replication datasets from which to begin statistical analysis. The article also discusses the challenge of publishing research with null findings and one possible strategy for overcoming it. It also illustrates the value of multi-method research designs that combine quantitative and qualitative analysis.