This article
Sociologica
N. 3/2007
Doi: 10.2383/25959
Copyright © 2007 by Società editrice il Mulino, Bologna
Narratives, Bayesian Narratives and Narrative Actions
Abstract
A narrative comprises of singular causal links connecting a sequence of actions/events (i.e. a chronology). A technique which inserts these links using Bayesian inferences from items of evidence is outlined. The so constructed Bayesian narratives underpin both the analysis of historically based case studies and a possible theory of action which complements the standard theories of normative and rational actions.
Keywords:
Bayesian narratives, causal inference, action theory, small-n, learning.