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Functions and mechanisms in structural-modelling explanations

Author

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  • WUNSCH, Guillaume

    (Université catholique de Louvain, Demography, Belgium)

  • MOUCHART, Michel

    (Université catholique de Louvain, CORE & ISBA, Belgium)

  • RUSSO, Federica

    (Center Leo Apostel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

Abstract

One way the social scientists explain phenomena is by building structural models. These models are explanatory insofar as they manage to perform a recursive decomposition on an initial multivariate probability distribution, which can be interpreted as a mechanism. The social scientists should include the variables in the model on the basis of their function in the mechanism. This paper examines the notion of ‘function’ within structural modelling. We argue that ‘functions’ ought to be understood as the theoretical underpinnings of the causes, namely as the role that causes play in the functioning of the mechanism.

Suggested Citation

  • WUNSCH, Guillaume & MOUCHART, Michel & RUSSO, Federica, 2012. "Functions and mechanisms in structural-modelling explanations," LIDAM Discussion Papers CORE 2012056, Université catholique de Louvain, Center for Operations Research and Econometrics (CORE).
    • Handle: RePEc:cor:louvco:2012056
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    File URL: https://sites.uclouvain.be/core/publications/coredp/coredp2012.html
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    References listed on IDEAS

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