The issue of ruling out alternative explanation is relevant to IE scholars engaged in empirical work whether qualitative or quantitative. Partially, this is due to the fact that few replication studies are published in the IE area (as is true of the broader IB and ENT field). This recent JIBS editorial may be therefore of interest to those seeking to ensure that their findings are “worthy of confidence”.
Cuervo-Cazurra, A., Andersson, U., Brannen, M., Nielsen, B., & Rebecca Reuber, A. (2016). From the Editors: Can I trust your findings? Ruling out alternative explanations in international business research. Journal Of International Business Studies, 47(8), 881-897. doi:10.1057/s41267-016-0005-4