反事实、控制变量和文本——对定性研究 的反思

本文认为，由于反事实问题的存在，单一个案不能确定因果关系。比较研究的困难在于控制变量，定性研究缺乏控制变量的技术手段。定性研究的结果是用日常语言表述的，日常语言 （ 尤其是汉语）是诗性的，进行科学表述时不可避免地存在模糊性。因此，从科学的视角来看，定性研究存在着根本缺陷，这是社会科学进行实证的定性研究时所必须面对的困境。

Counterfactual Problems, Control Variables and Text: Reflections on Qualitative Study

The existence of counterfactual problems leads to the uncertainty of the causal relationship of a single case. Comparative study faces such challenges as control variables while qualitative study lacks the technical means for control variables. The findings of qualitative study are expressed in our daily language which (especially Chinese) is poetic in nature and vague in scientific expression. Thus, in the scientific perspective, qualitative study has some fatal defects, which is a dilemma in the empirical studies of social sciences.