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POLS 373 Foundations of Comparative Politics
Comparative Strategies Lecture
April 10, 2007
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
IntroductionIntroduction
Basic Strategies of Comparative Analysis Case study Binary or two-unit analysis Multi-unit analysis (3 or more units)
Mixed design
++++
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Two Related Strategies …
Within-case comparison
Analytical induction
1945-19601961-19871987-2006
Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
IntroductionIntroduction
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The Case StudyThe Case Study
In-depth examination of a single In-depth examination of a single “case”“case”
Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Case StudyCase Study
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What is a case? What is a case? A Very Basic DefinitionA Very Basic Definition
1. A specific issue or concern (e.g., terrorism, industrialization, revolution, a social movement)
2. A delimited geographic space (Japan, France, California, Moscow)
3. A certain period of time
Concrete ExamplesConcrete Examples: :
1.1. Far-left terrorism in post-war ItalyFar-left terrorism in post-war Italy
2.2. Japanese industrialization between 1945 and 1975Japanese industrialization between 1945 and 1975
3.3. The economic effects of NAFTA on Mexican The economic effects of NAFTA on Mexican immigration to the U.S.immigration to the U.S.
Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
What is a Case?What is a Case?
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Identify your own “cases” based on Identify your own “cases” based on the specified criteria (the specified criteria (a specific issue or concern, a delimited geographic space, a certain period of time)
____________________________________________ ?
____________________________________________ ?
____________________________________________ ?
Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
What is a Case?What is a Case?
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How is an in-depth study of a How is an in-depth study of a singlesingle “case” comparative? “case” comparative?
Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
What is a Case?What is a Case?
Hmm … can I compare thisHmm … can I compare thisapple to itself?apple to itself?
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
The Case StudyThe Case Study
How To Do a Case StudyHow To Do a Case Study
Not all case studies are comparative
To do a comparative case study, two basic “rules” must be followed:
1. Seeing your case in relation to others: This requires you to be familiar both with similar and dissimilar cases.
1. Aiming at generalization: This means self-consciously fitting your case into the bigger theoretical picture.
Warning: Neither of these steps is easy to do!
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
The Case StudyThe Case Study
Simple maxim of doing case studies in comparative perspective:Simple maxim of doing case studies in comparative perspective:
Think comparatively, but deeply and systematically
Simple maxim of doing case studies in comparative perspective:Simple maxim of doing case studies in comparative perspective:
Think comparatively, but deeply and systematically
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
The Case StudyThe Case Study
Think comparativelyExample: If you are studying gun violence in America, think about the same phenomenon in other countries; think about differences/similarities among American cities, rural versus urban versus suburban, and so on
Think deeply Example: Don’t be satisfied with superficial comparisons; look very closely at selected cases; consider how your primary cases “fits into” the bigger picture
Think systematicallyExample: Don’t stop with a couple of simple or simplistic comparisons; develop and follow a well-thought out, coherent and logical research design
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
The Case Study: LimitationsThe Case Study: Limitations
A single case study, while it may aim at generalization, can never hit the bull’s-eye
Why not?
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
The Case Study: LimitationsThe Case Study: Limitations
Why can’t a case study in comparative perspective ever hit the “bull’s eye” of generalization?
The answer? ______________________
small-n problemSmall-n problem
What’s a “small-n”?We’ll return to this question shortly …
What’s a “small-n”?We’ll return to this question shortly …
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
The Case Study: LimitationsThe Case Study: Limitations
Despite its limitations, case studies Despite its limitations, case studies can still serve an indispensable can still serve an indispensable social scientific role …social scientific role …
… … as an as an empirical/theoretical stepping empirical/theoretical stepping stone or building blockstone or building block
Compararativists whoCompararativists whofollow this path use afollow this path use astrategy calledstrategy called______________________________________
analytical analytical inductioninduction
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
The Case Study: LimitationsThe Case Study: Limitations
Analytical Induction: A Few Words
Induction (dictionary definition): the process of deriving general principles from particular facts or instances
Analysis (dictionary definition): detailed examination of the elements or structure of something, typically as a basis for discussion or interpretation
Analytical induction, therefore, uses evidence and conclusions drawn from a detailed examination of individual cases as a way to revise and refine broader theories about political, social or economic phenomena
Each case serves as separate, but essential building block in the overall structure of a general theory
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Binary or Two-Unit ComparisonsBinary or Two-Unit Comparisons
A Simple Lesson About Binary A Simple Lesson About Binary ComparisonsComparisons
All you really need to know (for All you really need to know (for now): binary or two-unit now): binary or two-unit comparisons follow the logic of comparisons follow the logic of either the MSS either the MSS oror MDS design. MDS design.
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Binary or Two-Unit ComparisonsBinary or Two-Unit Comparisons
Binary Comparisons: Binary Comparisons: A CaveatA Caveat
In a binary comparison, case selection is very important
The logic (mss or mds) of comparative design must be closely followed
Researcher must avoid selection bias Researcher must not arbitrarily ignore or
dismiss differences or similarities without justification
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
The Small-N ProblemThe Small-N Problem
The Case Study and Binary Analysis: The “Small-N” ProblemThe Case Study and Binary Analysis: The “Small-N” Problem
Small-N Problem (a reprise): Remember, this refers to a situation in which the researcher only has a small number of relevant cases to analyze
In quantitative research, a small-n represents a serious, even fundamental problem because the small sample size, by itself, may yield biased results
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Within Case Comparison
What is a within-case comparison?
Put simply, a within-case comparison is a comparison of the same unit, but with the added variables of “time” and “change”
??
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Within-Case ComparisonWithin-Case Comparison
Example of a within-case comparison: South Korea, 1945-1961 and 1961-1987
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Multi-unit Comparisons (3+ Multi-unit Comparisons (3+ units)units)
Multi-Unit Comparisons (3+ Units or Cases): Basic Points
Logic of multi-unit comparison is the same as with binary comparison
More cases mitigates, but does not negate small-n problem
Case selection can be very difficult
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Multi-unit Comparisons (3+ Multi-unit Comparisons (3+ units)units)
Multi-Unit Comparisons (3+ Units or Cases): A Trade-Off
“Bigger-N’s” are good, but too many cases requires a sacrifice in …_________________
Taken too far, cases (countries,societies) become mere“data points”
depth
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Multi-unit Comparisons (3+ Multi-unit Comparisons (3+ units)units)
Multi-Unit Comparisons (3+ Units or Cases): A Question
If there are advantages to having more cases, but disadvantages to having too many, how many cases is optimum in comparativeresearch?
It depends
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Mixed DesignMixed Design
The Mixed Design The mixed design involves a combination of
several research design and strategies used simultaneously within the context of single research project
In principle, this is really the best type of comparative research strategy to adopt, for it allows the researcher to mitigate the limitation of using just a single strategy
++++ ++MSSMSS
MDSMDS
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Mixed DesignMixed Design
Setting Up a Mixed Design First step: Think comparatively
Second step: Do research (qualitative and quantitative); find data and evidence to identify possible cases
Third step: Consider the data in relation to the basic principles (logic) and strategies of comparative analysis
++++ ++MSSMSS
MDSMDS
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Setting Up a Mixed DesignSetting Up a Mixed Design
International Homicide Rates, 2000For selected countries
Rate per 100,000
Country Rate per 100,000
Country
50.14 South Africa _1.79 France 21.40 Russia (1999) _1.76 Canada 10.00 Lithuania _1.61 England & Wales _9.94 Estonia _1.54 Belgium _6.22 Latvia _1.50 Greece _5.64 U.S.A. _1.48 Ireland (Eire) _2.94 Spain _1.42 Netherlands _2.86 Finland _1.42 Italy _2.84 Northern
Ireland _1.41 Slovenia
_2.72 Czech Republic _1.24 Portugal _2.65 Slovakia _1.17 Germany _2.58 New Zealand _1.10 Japan _2.50 Romania _1.09 Norway _2.31 Turkey (1999) _1.09 Denmark _2.23 Poland _1.06 Malta _2.11 Scotland _1.01 Austria _2.04 Hungary _0.96 Switzerland _1.97 Sweden _0.60 Cyprus _1.81 Australia
Source: Gordon Baclay & Cynthia Tavares, Research Development & Statistics Directorate (Home Office, United Kingdom), International comparisons of criminal justice statistics 2000, July 2, 2002 (London). Available on the internet: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb502.pdf
From this very general data, are any possible comparative cases evident?
What other data do you need?
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Setting Up a Mixed DesignSetting Up a Mixed Design
International Rates of Firearm Homicides, Total Homicide, and % of Households with Guns
For selected countries
From this very general data, are any possible comparative cases evident?
Does this table help develop arguments about the importance of a particular variable?
Country Year Firearm
Homicide Total
Homicide
% Households With Guns
Mauritius 1993 0 2.35 n/a
Ja pan 1994 0.02 0.62 n/a
Singapore 1994 0.07 1.71 n/a
Sweden 1993 0.18 1.3 15.1
Germany 1994 0.22 1.17 8.9
Hungary 1994 0.23 3.53 n/a
Denmark 1993 0.23 1.21 n/a
Norway 1993 0.3 0.97 32
Slovenia 1994 0.35 2.01 n/a
Austria 1994 0.42 1.17 n/a
France 1994 0.44 1.12 22.6
Australia 1994 0.44 1.86 19.4
Switzerland 1994 0.58 1.32 27.2
Belgium 1990 0.6 1.41 16.6
Canada 1992 0.76 2.16 29.1
Finland 1994 0.86 3.24 23.2
Taiwan 1996 0.97 8.12 n/a
Portugal 1994 1.28 2.98 n/a
Argentina 1994 2.11 4.51 n/a
United States 1993 3.72 5.7 39
N. Irel and 1994 5.24 6.09 8.4
Estonia 1994 8.07 28.21 n/a
Mexico 1994 9.88 17.58 n/a
Brazil 1993 10.58 19.04 n/a
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Setting Up a Mixed DesignSetting Up a Mixed Design
International Rates of Homicide in Selected Cities Not all international
comparisons need to be at the national level
What sub-national comparisons might we make based on this data?
Comparison of homicide in selected cities (2000, except were indicated)
City # of Homicides Homicide Rate Lefkosia, Cyprus 0 0.00 Athens, Greece 17 0.53 Edinburgh, Scotland 5 1.10 Oslo, Norway 6 1.18 Tokyo, Japan 151 1.24 Berlin, Germany 76 2.20 London, England 189 2.59 Prague, Czech Republic 49 3.30 Paris, France 88 4.10 Belfast, N. Ireland 21 7.3 New York, USA 673 8.69 Tallinn, Estonia 39 9.73 Vilnius, Lithuania 59 10.20 Moscow, Russia (1999) 1,206 18.85 Washington, DC USA 232 41.78 Pretoria, South Africa (1997) 527 43.00 Note: in 1996, the homicide rate in Washington, D.C. was 73.11. This was the highest recorded rate of all major cities between the period 1996 and 2000.
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Setting Up a Mixed DesignSetting Up a Mixed Design
Trends of Homicide Victimization in the United States, 1950-2004
Not all data need to be or even should be international
Does this table tell us something important about homicide victimization within the United States over time?
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Setting Up a Mixed DesignSetting Up a Mixed Design
Homicide by Circumstance in the U.S., 1976-2004 General statistics
are important, but good comparative analysis also requires specific data
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Setting Up a Mixed DesignSetting Up a Mixed Design
Some Other Data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Setting Up a Mixed DesignSetting Up a Mixed Design
Remember: Quantitative data, while important, is usually not enough for a comparativist
Once appropriate cases are selected, in-depth, qualitative analysis is often necessary
NECESSARY, BUT NOTNECESSARY, BUT NOTENOUGHENOUGH
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Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis
Setting Up a Mixed DesignSetting Up a Mixed Design
Mixed Design Strategies: Based on our (very limited) research, what combination of research principles (logic) and strategies can we use for our “mixed design”?
1. ______________________________________2. ______________________________________3. ______________________________________4. ______________________________________5. ______________________________________
What would be a good case study?
What would be a good binary comparison?Is there an appropriate multi-unit comparison?Is there a strong within-case or sub-national comparison?
++++ ++MSSMSS
MDSMDS
What comparative logics would you use?
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