ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the methods and practices of data acquisition and analysis and the related methodological issues in comparative causal mapping (CCM) research. It describes different types of CCM data and main method approaches to acquiring CCM data and explores the CCM-specific and methodologically critical questions of coding, comparison and aggregation. It addresses the problem of dependability of trustworthiness, in conventional terms, validity and reliability. The chapter discusses quantifying aspects of causal maps in terms of numerical indicators. It addresses some design issues and discusses selecting between different CCM approaches. In contrast to text-based and low-structured CCM methods, structured elicitation uses a template approach. In low-structured or semi-structured CCM research this stage is not needed at all because they elicit original data, and call for more data processing and coding. The work in coding varies too, depending on the type and amount of data, the level and purposes of coding, the complexity of issues addressed, and so on.
