Abductive Analyst

職業

分類

銷售同市場推廣

Folder Structure

project/
├── interviews/              # Interview transcripts
├── theory/                  # Theoretical resources (papers, notes)
├── analysis/
│   ├── phase0-reports/     # Theoretical preparation outputs
│   ├── phase1-reports/     # Familiarization summaries
│   ├── phase2-reports/     # Theoretical casing reports
│   ├── phase3-reports/     # Anomaly analysis reports
│   ├── phase4-reports/     # Memos and emerging theory
│   ├── phase5-reports/     # Integration and final synthesis
│   ├── phase6-reports/     # Article drafts and writing outputs
│   ├── codes/              # Codebook and coded excerpts
│   └── memos/              # Analytical memos
└── resources/              # Methodology resources

Analysis Phases

Phase 0: Theoretical Preparation

Goal: Build the theoretical sensitivity necessary to recognize surprises in the data.

Following Timmermans & Tavory: "Abduction assumes extensive familiarity with existing theories at the outset and throughout every research step." You can only recognize anomalies against a background of theoretical expectations.

Process:

• Read and synthesize all materials in /theory
• Distinguish map theories (substantive theories) from compass theories (broader frameworks)
• Extract key concepts, mechanisms, and predictions from each theory
• Identify points of convergence, tension, and gaps in the literature
• Generate sensitizing questions to bring to the data

Output: Phase 0 Report with theory summaries, theoretical map, and sensitizing questions.

Pause: Review theoretical synthesis with user. Confirm sensitizing questions.

Phase 1: Familiarization & Open Coding

Goal: Develop intimate familiarity with the data; generate initial codes informed by (but not determined by) theoretical sensitivity.

Process:

• Read all interviews carefully
• Generate descriptive codes (actors, actions, contexts, emotions, justifications)
• Produce a summary of each interview
• Flag initial "surprises" in light of Phase 0's theoretical expectations
• Create initial codebook

Output: Phase 1 Report with interview summaries, initial codes, and flagged surprises.

Pause: Discuss observations with user. Confirm direction for theoretical casing.

Phase 2: Theoretical Casing

Goal: Systematically apply multiple theoretical frameworks to key excerpts.

Process:

• Select key excerpts from Phase 1 (especially flagged surprises)
• Apply multiple theoretical lenses from Phase 0:
  • Compass theories: symbolic interactionism, emotions/affect, practice theory, etc.
  • Map theories: relevant middle-range theories from the substantive literature
• Document what each lens reveals and obscures
• Note where theories conflict in their interpretation

Output: Phase 2 Report with theoretical casings of key excerpts.

Pause: Review theoretical casings with user. Discuss emerging tensions.

Phase 3: Anomaly & Variation Analysis

Goal: Systematically identify contradictions, puzzles, and variation across interviews.

Process:

• Cross-interview comparison: How do different participants talk about the same phenomena?
• Identify contradictions (between interviews, within interviews, between data and theory)
• Locate negative cases that don't fit emerging patterns
• Analyze variation: What explains differences across participants?

Output: Phase 3 Report cataloging anomalies, contradictions, and variation patterns.

Pause: Review anomalies with user. Confirm focus for theory development.

Phase 4: Memo Writing & Theory Development

Goal: Develop tentative theoretical claims through intensive memo writing.

Process:

• Write analytical memos on emerging concepts
• Propose theoretical claims: "What would have to be true for this pattern to make sense?"
• Identify mechanisms and processes
• Connect emerging insights to existing literature (returning to Phase 0 synthesis)
• Articulate what is novel or surprising about the emerging theory

Output: Phase 4 Report with analytical memos and tentative theoretical propositions.

Pause: Discuss emerging theory with user. Test interpretations.

Phase 5: Integration & Testing

Goal: Test emerging theory against the full dataset; produce synthesis.

Process:

• Return to full dataset with emerging theoretical framework
• Actively seek disconfirming evidence
• Refine theoretical claims based on negative cases
• Produce integrated synthesis document
• Articulate theoretical contribution and its boundaries

Output: Phase 5 Report with final theoretical synthesis and contribution statement.

Pause: Review synthesis with user before writing phase.

Phase 6: Writing Up for Publication

Goal: Write up findings for a journal article using rhetorical abduction.

Following Timmermans & Tavory: "Writing is not a mop-up chore at the end of a research project." Writing is analysis—it reveals whether surprises are actually surprising and may prompt additional analytical cycles.

Process:

• Structure the article using rhetorical abduction: (1) what we knew → (2) the surprise → (3) new theorization
• Select luminous exemplars—the most evocative data, not statistically typical
• Use juxtaposition to highlight data-theory tensions
• Be ruthless in selecting quotes—each must do theoretical work
• Anticipate reviewer objections
• Specify scope conditions and limitations

Article Structure:

• Abstract: State puzzle, preview surprise, articulate contribution
• Introduction: Hook + theoretical problem + argument preview
• Literature Review: Prime expectations that will be disrupted
• Methods: Data, approach, sampling, limitations
• Findings: Index case → variation → theoretical implications
• Discussion: Contribution, scope conditions, implications
• Conclusion: Core contribution + broader significance

Output: Phase 6 Report with article outline, selected evidence, article draft, and contribution statement.

Technique Guides

Reference these guides for phase-specific instructions. Guides are in phases/ (relative to this skill):

Invoking Phase Agents

For each phase, invoke the appropriate sub-agent using the Task tool:

Task: Phase 0 Theoretical Preparation
subagent_type: general-purpose