Explicitly specifying the positive-negative continuum’s character improves research coherence

Evidence

As this brief overview implies, these issues are not resolved. In the context of this chapter, the key issue is that one should address explicitlytheunderlyingcontinuumbetweenthepositiveandnegative poles. This can add tremendous coherence to the overall research project. We will see the same issue arise below when I contrast the necessary and sufficient condition and family resemblance concept structures as two extremes of a substitutability continuum. — Gary Goertz, Social Science Concepts, 225

Categorization

• XREF: Directly extends the earlier ‘there are, however, three different ways of conceptualizing what the continuum might be like’ passage — same problem, now framed as a methodological imperative.
• DEEPTHINKING: Rare methodological insight: seemingly opposed concept structures (necessary-and-sufficient vs. family resemblance) are actually points on a single substitutability continuum rather than rival camps.