A systematic approach to institutional analysis: Applying Crawford and Ostrom's grammar
Abstract
In 1995, Crawford and Ostrom proposed a grammatical syntax for examining institutional
statements (i.e., rules, norms, and strategies) as part of the institutional analysis
and development framework. This article constitutes the first attempt at applying
the grammatical syntax to code institutional statements using two pieces of U.S. legislation.
The authors illustrate how the grammatical syntax can serve as a basis for collecting,
presenting, and analyzing data in a way that is reliable and conveys valid and substantive
meaning for the researcher. The article concludes by describing some implementation
challenges and ideas for future theoretical and field research. © 2010 University
of Utah.
Type
Journal articlePermalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/6512Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1177/1065912909334430Publication Info
Basurto, X; Kingsley, G; McQueen, K; Smith, M; & Weible, CM (2010). A systematic approach to institutional analysis: Applying Crawford and Ostrom's grammar.
Political Research Quarterly, 63(3). pp. 523-537. 10.1177/1065912909334430. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/6512.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
Collections
More Info
Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Xavier Basurto
Truman and Nellie Semans/Alex Brown & Sons Associate Professor
I am interested in the fundamental question of how groups (human and non-human) can
find ways to self-organize, cooperate, and engage in successful collective action
for the benefit of the common good. To do this I strive to understand how the institutions
(formal and informal rules and norms) that govern social behavior, interplay with
biophysical variables to shape social-ecological systems. What kind of institutions
are better able to govern complex-adaptive systems? and how can societies (la

Articles written by Duke faculty are made available through the campus open access policy. For more information see: Duke Open Access Policy
Rights for Collection: Scholarly Articles
Works are deposited here by their authors, and represent their research and opinions, not that of Duke University. Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info