The comparative method

Practical advantages of the comparative method?

Less time consuming and expensive than other experiments

Fewer researcher skills required

Ethical advantages of the comparative method?

No harm caused to participants

Easy to ensure anonymity

Is the comparative method reliable?

High control over variables makes comparative method easily repeatable

Is the comparative method representative?

Sample is likely to be large as statistics are usually used

Which theoretical perspective would favour the comparative method?

Positivists

Practical disadvantages of the comparative method?

Data required may not exist for some subject matters

Ethical disadvantages of the comparative method?

As researcher is likely to be using official statistics informed consent ahs not strictly been given

Why might the comparative method lack validity?

The data collected and conclusions drawn may not be accurate because the cause and effect relationships established by the researcher is ultimately based on their own interpretation

Which theoretical perspective would not favour the comparative method?

Interpretivists