Method of agreement is a research technique commonly used in social science and philosophy to determine causation. This method can be applied to a wide range of research areas, including business, politics, and economics. In this article, we will define the method of agreement and explain how it is used in research.

Definition of Method of Agreement

Method of agreement is a research technique that involves identifying a common factor or variable that occurs in multiple cases where the phenomenon being studied also occurs. This method seeks to determine whether the identified common factor is the cause of the phenomenon under investigation.

The method of agreement is based on the principle that if two or more cases share the same cause, then the effect should be present in all of them. Conversely, if the effect is present in all cases, then it is likely that they share a common cause. This method is predicated on the idea that if there is a common cause among various cases, it is this cause that is responsible for the observed effect.

Method of Agreement in Research

In research, the method of agreement can be used to establish causation by identifying the common factor or variable that exists in multiple cases of an observed phenomenon. To apply this method, researchers must first identify the cases that share the phenomenon. Next, they must identify the common factor or variable that exists in all of these cases.

Once the common factor or variable has been identified, researchers must establish a causal link between it and the observed phenomenon. This is done by testing whether the effect is present in all cases where the common factor or variable is present. If the effect is present in all cases, then the method of agreement supports the hypothesis that the common factor or variable is the cause of the phenomenon.

Simple Example of Method of Agreement

To illustrate the method of agreement, consider a study of productivity in the workplace. The researchers identify several employees who consistently meet or exceed their productivity targets and note that they all have a habit of taking short breaks throughout the day.

The researchers then identify several employees who struggle to meet their productivity targets and observe that they rarely take breaks throughout the day. The researchers conclude that the common factor among the productive employees is taking short breaks throughout the day. They further hypothesize that this habit leads to increased productivity in the workplace.

To test this hypothesis, the researchers ask the less productive employees to take short breaks throughout the day for a week and measure the resulting change in productivity. If the less productive employees` productivity improves, the method of agreement would support the hypothesis that taking short breaks throughout the day leads to increased productivity.

Conclusion

The method of agreement is a research technique used to establish causation. This technique involves identifying a common factor or variable that exists in multiple cases of an observed phenomenon. Once the common factor or variable has been identified, researchers must establish a causal link between it and the observed phenomenon. If the effect is present in all cases where the common factor or variable is present, the method of agreement supports the hypothesis that the common factor or variable is the cause of the phenomenon.