Lim chapter on comparative method

Comparative Methods

• Importance of Learning to Compare

  • Comparative politics is defined by its methodology.

  • Comparison illuminates understanding of societal characteristics that may be overlooked without it.

  • Comparison not only enhances knowledge but is also essential for critical thinking and open-mindedness.

Challenges in Learning to Compare

• Open-mindedness and Critical Thinking

  • Open-mindedness is essential to effectively evaluate differences and similarities.

  • Critical thinking involves careful evaluation, considering evidence and multiple perspectives.

  • Ethnocentrism can hinder objective comparisons, urging the need for diverse perspectives to identify biases.

Strategies of Comparative Analysis

• Approaches to Comparative Analysis

  • No singular method; various strategies suit different tasks and questions.

  • The questions you set and goals dictate the choice of comparative framework.

Most Similar Systems Design (MSS)

• Definition and Purpose

  • Involves comparing similar systems that differ in key respects.

  • Example: United States and Canada regarding homicide rates.

  • Control for shared attributes to isolate differences affecting the dependent variable.

• Key Features

  • Important to establish variance in the dependent variable.

  • Identifying significant differences (independent variables) is key.

• Limitations

  • A limited comparison may lead to coincidental findings.

  • Must be cautious about asserting causation based on differences identified.

Most Different Systems Design (MDS)

• Definition and Purpose

  • Compares distinctly different systems to identify shared outcomes (dependent variable).

  • Useful for showing that common outcomes result from unique contexts.

• Key Features

  • Independent variable(s) remain consistent across diverse systems.

  • Assumes similarity exists at lower levels (subsystems).

• Limitations

  • May overlook complex causality.

  • Identifying clear cause-and-effect relationships can be challenging.

Practical Comparative Strategies

• Case Study in Comparative Perspective

  • Focus on a specific case linked to broader social phenomena for depth.

  • Need to relate case to existing theories and frameworks.

• Binary Comparison (Two Units)

  • Similar logic applied from MSS and MDS, but with pronounced risk of bias.

  • Selection of cases must be non-arbitrary to avoid overdetermination.

• Multiunit Comparison

  • Analyzing multiple cases can enhance robustness of findings.

• Mixed Design

  • Incorporates both MSS and MDS, enhancing theoretical development and supporting argumentation with diverse sources.

Conclusion

• Comparative analysis is essential for deeper understanding of political phenomena but comes with limitations.

• Analyzing comparatives requires a methodical, systematic approach to derive valid conclusions without oversimplification.

• Encouragement for further exploration into mixed-design strategies to enhance political science research, focusing on systematic comparisons.