Process tracing is a technique through which the qualitative analysts
try to determine the causal mechanisms which connect the elaborative
variable to a consequence or effect. The recent methodist have
assisted these analysts to offer a more formal understanding of this
technique in comparative qualitative research and cases studies. The analysis of event-structure is the most expansive attempt for drawing
the formal diagram of informal narratives in the form of process
tracing.
On the other hand, the essence of case studies in macro sociology is exposing the historical narratives through process tracing in which
one complicated historical narrative is divided into stages and
episodes which have been connected to each other in a causal sequence.
Regarding the Islamic Revolution application of process tracing is
about expression of details of the events that led to the culmination
of the Revolution. A review of the elucidations of the revolution
indicates that this technique on the basis of the objectives and
theoretical framework of the researcher has been presented in a
different manner. Some analysts, for instance, on the basis of the
objectives and theoretical framework of their study have only alluded
to the turning-points and significant events in the course of the
Islamic Revolution and have overlooked the narration of the details of
all the events. Whereas others while presenting the said events have
discussed more historical events that have led to the victory of the
revolution.