Pitfalls of Analysis and the Analysis of Pitfalls

Majone, G. (1977). Pitfalls of Analysis and the Analysis of Pitfalls. IIASA Research Memorandum. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: RM-77-001

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Abstract

The literature of applied systems has devoted considerable attention to the treatment of pitfalls. The present paper extends previous discussions in two ways: by introducing a new categorization of pitfalls: and by examining their epistemological, technical, and conceptual roots.

Analytic pitfalls are grouped around four rubrics that closely correspond to the four components of the analytic task: (a) problem setting, data, and information; (b) tools and methods; (c) evidence and argument; (d) conclusions, communication, and implementation.

A number of examples are discussed, and it is argued that analytic methods and techniques can be best understood in terms of the pitfalls they are designed to circumvent.

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