1. POLS 373 Foundations of Comparative Politics
Comparative Strategies Lecture
April 10, 2007

2. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Introduction
Basic Strategies of Comparative Analysis
Case study
Binary or two-unit analysis
Multi-unit analysis (3 or more units)
Mixed design + +

3. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Introduction
Two Related Strategies …
Within-case comparison
Analytical induction

4. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Case Study
The Case Study
In-depth examination of a single “case”

5. Strategies of Comparative Analysis What is a Case?
What is a case? A Very Basic Definition
A specific issue or concern (e.g., terrorism, industrialization, revolution, a social movement)
A delimited geographic space (Japan, France, California, Moscow)
A certain period of time
Concrete Examples:
Far-left terrorism in post-war Italy
Japanese industrialization between 1945 and 1975
The economic effects of NAFTA on Mexican immigration to the U.S.

6. Strategies of Comparative Analysis What is a Case?
Identify your own “cases” based on the specified criteria (a specific issue or concern, a delimited geographic space, a certain period of time)
____________________________________________ ?

7. Strategies of Comparative Analysis What is a Case?
How is an in-depth study of a single “case” comparative?
Hmm … can I compare this apple to itself?

8. Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study
How To Do a Case Study
Not all case studies are comparative
To do a comparative case study, two basic “rules” must be followed:
Seeing your case in relation to others: This requires you to be familiar both with similar and dissimilar cases.
Aiming at generalization: This means self-consciously fitting your case into the bigger theoretical picture.
Warning: Neither of these steps is easy to do!

9. Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study
Simple maxim of doing case studies in comparative perspective:
Think comparatively, but deeply and systematically

10. Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study
Think comparatively
Example: 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 systematically
Example: Don’t stop with a couple of simple or simplistic comparisons; develop and follow a well-thought out, coherent and logical research design

11. Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study: Limitations
A single case study, while it may aim at generalization, can never hit the bull’s-eye
Why not?

12. Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study: Limitations
Why can’t a case study in comparative perspective ever hit the “bull’s eye” of generalization?
The answer? ______________________
Small-n problem
small-n problem
What’s a “small-n”? We’ll return to this question shortly …

13. Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study: Limitations
Despite its limitations, case studies can still serve an indispensable social scientific role …
… as an empirical/theoretical stepping stone or building block
Compararativists who follow this path use a strategy called ___________________
analytical induction

14. Strategies of Comparative Analysis The 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

15. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Binary or Two-Unit Comparisons
A Simple Lesson About Binary Comparisons
All you really need to know (for now): binary or two-unit comparisons follow the logic of either the MSS or MDS design.

16. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Binary or Two-Unit Comparisons
Binary Comparisons: A 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

17. Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Small-N Problem
The 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

18. Strategies of Comparative Analysis
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” ?

19. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Within-Case Comparison
Example of a within-case comparison: South Korea, and

20. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Multi-unit Comparisons (3+ 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

21. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Multi-unit Comparisons (3+ 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

22. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Multi-unit Comparisons (3+ 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 comparative research?
It depends

23. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Mixed 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
MDS + + +
MSS

24. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Mixed 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
MDS + + +
MSS

25. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Setting Up a Mixed Design
International Homicide Rates, 2000
For selected countries
From this very general data, are any possible comparative cases evident?
What other data do you need?

26. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Setting 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?

27. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Setting 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?

28. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Setting Up a Mixed Design
Trends of Homicide Victimization in the United States,
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?

29. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Setting Up a Mixed Design
Homicide by Circumstance in the U.S.,
General statistics are important, but good comparative analysis also requires specific data

30. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Setting Up a Mixed Design
Some Other Data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice

31. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Setting 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 NOT ENOUGH

32. Strategies of Comparative Analysis Setting 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”?
______________________________________
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?
What comparative logics would you use?
MDS + + +
MSS