ABSTRACT
For the collection, analysis and interpretation of data for the case-studies in the next chapters, a case-study methodology is used (Yin 1991, Swanborn 1999). Case studies are a methodological design prone to pitfalls and their validity and reliability of studies making use of cases depend largely on the research method applied. This study applies a particular process tracing technique: intensive process analysis. This method has been designed and applied with the purpose of analysing political decision-making at the national level (Huberts 1988, Peters 1995, Arts 1998). To be of use in a study on EU policy-shaping, the method needs to be adapted. The next sections are concerned with elaborating the central concepts of the study, (§2), introducing the research method (§3) and explaining the case study selection (§4).
