ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates, first, how the study of non-state actors in international security can benefit from combining the case study techniques of covariational analysis, congruence analysis and causal process-tracing, and, second, how such a combination is possible in research practice. It demonstrates the value added in terms of reliability, breadth and depth of insights to be had from relying on all three of these case study techniques in one project. This multipronged approach is still uncommon, because covariational analysis, congruence analysis and process-tracing are usually treated as alternative approaches to case studies. In addition to proposing a triangulation of case study methods, the chapter also highlights the need to take the different modes of inference and data requirements of the three approaches seriously. Thus, such triangulation requires careful design and, most likely, additional work to gather, evaluate and weigh different types of evidence.
