Comparative Methods in Social Sciences, II

Kazimierz M. Slomczynski

&

Irina Tomescu Dubrow

From lecture I

Comparative methods are specific in that they address problems inherent in cross-national and/or

historical studies.

Specificity:

How questions should be asked?

What rules should be followed?

Typology of approaches

Hypothesis testing approach in cross-national research

The proposed typology takes into account the nature of dependent variable (explanandum) and independent variable(s) (explanans).

Macro-macro, Ia

1. Type of explanation: macro-macro. Both dependent variable and independent variable(s) are defined for a country as a whole. This refers to the Country-Level Data, CLD.

Quantitative Studies on Nations' Characteristics1a. Positional characteristics:

Matrix A = aij

where a is a value of variable j in country i.

Countries Country-level variables

CVAR1 CVAR2 CVAR3 CVAR4

1 25 100 1 0

2 26 123 2 1

3 11 145 5 1

4 13 135 … …

5 25 150 4 0

6 21 144 2 0

7 20 133 2 1

8 22 156 2 0

9 14 145 5 0

… … … …

N-1 15 136 3 0

N 26 135 2 1

Macro-macro, Ib

Studies of the World System and its Elements

1b. Relational characteristics:

Matrix B = bkl

where b is a value of variable showing the relationship between country k in country l.

Count-ries

Countries

A B C D E F G

Visits of kings

A 0 256 0 0 36 27 0

B 24 8 9 0 0 0 0

C 0 0 5 1 3 0 57

D 0 1 1 1 1 1 90

E 0 1 2 0 3 0 20

F 12 1 2 1 5 1 13

G 1 1 2 0 5 1 9

Micro-micro

Type of explanation: micro-micro. The dependent variable is micro (on individual level) and independent variable(s) is also micro (on individual level) but research is done in separate countries and the results are compared. This refers to the Individual-Level Data, ILD.

Survey research in three countries

Matrix A = aij

where a is a value of variable j for individual i.

Matrix B = bij

where b is a value of variable j for individual i.

Matrix C = cij

where c is a value of variable j for individual i.

Cases Individual-level variables

IVAR1 IVAR2 IVAR3 IVAR4

Country A

1 5 2 2 0

2 6 3 2 1

3 1 5 5 1

… … … … …

2499 4 6 4 0

2500 6 9 2 0

Country B

1 4 3 2 1

2 2 7 2 0

3 4 3 5 0

… … … … …

2299 5 6 3 0

2300 6 5 2 1

Country C

1 4 5 1 0

… … … … …

Macro-micro

Type of explanation: macro-micro. The dependent variable is micro (on individual level) and independent variable(s) is macro (on country-level). This combines ILD and CLD

Matrix A = aijk

where a is a value of variable j for individual i in country k.

Cases Individual-level variables Country-level variables

IVAR1 IVAR2

IVAR3

IVAR4

CVAR1

CVAR2

CVAR

Sample from country A

1 5 2 2 0 3 0 23

2 6 3 2 1 3 0 23

3 1 5 5 1 3 0 23

… … … … … … … …

2500 6 9 2 0 3 0 23

Sample from country B

1 4 3 2 1 5 1 33

2 2 7 2 0 5 1 33

3 4 3 5 0 5 1 33

… … … … … … … …

2300 6 5 2 1 5 1 33

Sample from country B

1 4 5 1 0 7 1 53

… … … … … … … …

Stages of comparative research, 1

1. Selection of the problem and theory

- Abduction / sociology of knowledge (interests and values)

- Theoretical tradition and background

- Literature review

- Internationalization (contacts with different cultures)

Stages of comparative research, 2

2. Research design 1: Initial external analysis

- Choosing the countries

- Choosing the time periods

Stages of comparative research, 3

3. Data Collection

- Set up files

- Collect data in systematic fashion

- Field notes

Stages of comparative research, 4

4. Research design 2: Internal analysis

- Data analyses- Building models (statistical, or qualitative, or both)

Stages of comparative research, 5-6

5-6. Reformulation of theory

- Reformulation theory in internal analysis

- Refit of theory in internal analysis to overall theory in external analysis

Stages of comparative research, 7

7. Reporting