Multi-method Wargaming for International Relations Research

• In Event: New Research Methods in Security Studies

Abstract

International Relations has seen a new wave of attention given to multi-method research (notably Seawright 2016 and Goertz 2017), which has focused attention both on different ways of combining methods (ex. triangulation vs. integration) and how to combine the relative advantages and weaknesses of major methods in order to produce more robust causal inference. This paper will consider where wargames fit into these discussions. Because wargaming has seen limited use in academic research, there is little consideration of the tool in existing discussions of methods. However, work from the practitioner community has long argued for the value of integrating games with other approaches as part of a “cycle of research” (Perla, 2012) and smartly synthesizing across game results (Rubel, 2016). However, this work often lacks specificity and methodological depth. This paper will put these two bodies of research into dialog to suggest best practices in multi-method research with games, illustrated by recent examples from the author’s research practice.

Author

• Elizabeth Bartels, RAND Corporation