This chapter presents the research strategy used to evaluate the theoretical framework. The approach of this book is best summarised as an x-centred co-variation analysis of most similar case comparisons complemented with in-case evidence. I concentrate on five examples of measures implemented in Ireland and Portugal at the time that these countries were undergoing Economic Adjustment Programmes. I then go on to present the measurement of the two independent variables, the politicisation of the analysed policy and governing parties’ reputation for policy support. I contend that the level of politicisation depends on whether government policies come under pressure both in- and outside Parliament. Moreover, governing parties’ reputation for policy support depends on their track-record of attempting to enact similar measures or advocating for it, as well as on the terms of coalition agreements. The third and final section concerns the measurement of governments’ blame avoidance strategies. Using Parliamentary debates to conduct a qualitative content analysis of government representatives’ statements, I identify 663 blame avoidance statements in 273 Parliamentary debates in the five cases.