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Ways of Applying Comparative Analysis in Scientific Research: Descriptive Essay

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Comparative analysis is done to provide answers to questions about how or why it might be that a system counters to a concern of its variable. Comparative analysis is able to explain why the time frame of a block system would rise if the mass of the block were big. It is argued that “comparative analysis is conducted in order to clarify and gain a better understanding of the causal processes involved in the creation of an event, feature or relationships usually by bringing together variations in the explanatory variable or variables” (Pickvance, 2005). Researchers refer to cross-national research as the study that aims to compare certain issues of phenomena in two or more countries when it comes their different sociocultural settings (Gharawi, 2009).

Moreover, Azarian (2011) argues that ‘comparative research can be traced to a long history that has gained much attention in current research due to globalization and technological advances on cross-national platforms’. Kennet (2004) on the other hand illustrates that the field of comparative social enquiry has expanded intensely since the 1960’s, in terms of the amount of studies that are being undertaken, the variety of approaches used and the countries that are being analysed.

Comparative social policy was formerly regarded as an almost “exotic activity since the 1960’s and after the publication of Espin-aderso’s seminal book ‘The Three Worlds of welfare capitalism it has become increasingly popular” (Midgley, 2013: 182).

When it comes to carrying out comparative analysis, there are a number of reasons for carrying it out there are numerous methods when it comes to doing comparative analysis. Till (1984, p.82) determines four types of comparative analysis which is the Individualizing, the universalizing, the variation-finding and the encompassing. On the other hand, May (1993) provides a four-folded analysis which include the import-mirror view, the difference view, the theory development view and the prediction view (p.117).

The “individualizing comparison contrasts a small number of cases to be able to grasp the peculiarities of each case (Tilly, 1984 p.82). However, according to Fredrickson (1997) this method cannot be thought to be ‘accurately comparative but makes use of comparison in a small aspect of the research’. ‘The universalizing comparison aims to initiate that every instance of an event follows inherently the same rule’ (Till, 1984, p82). This includes the usage of comparison in order to generate important theories with significant generality and significance and to also provide theories that explain the cases that are being studied.

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“The variation-finding comparison plan to come up with a concept of variation in the character of intensity of an event and this is carried out by examining systematic differences between instances” (1984 p.82). This helps to compare many types of a single phenomenon to find reasonable differences amongst instances and to come up with a standard of variation in the character or strength of that phenomenon. An example of this can be found on two studies carried out by two researchers (Green, 1997, Modern Jewish Diaspora) and (Moore, 1996, Social Origins of Dictatorship). And finally, the Encompassing comparison puts “contrasting instances at different localities within the same system, on the way to describing their characteristics as a function of their extended relationships to the system as a whole” (Tilly, 1984 p.83).

Researchers might carry out comparative analysis for a number of reasons and they might do this in order to view the “the theoretical postulated relationships in which societal features are key type of independent variable” and doing comparative research design will enable some of these variables to expand (Pickvance, 2001 p.9). Another reason why comparative analysis might be carried out is to explore if a relationship that is being described in a study in one society is also being held in another. By doing this, it intends to initiate societal features clearly into the research design, in order to enable variables that are controlled in a society to differ (p.9).

To explore whether a condition that is fixed for one society is influential or not it is essential to carry out comparative analysis to clarify it. Pickvance (2001) argues that “one of the most frustrating experiences after carrying out a study in one society is to be faced by a critic who says that the reason a relationship between A and P was found in that study is that some other conditions B or C were present as uncontrolled variables and that conclusions are therefore only valid for societies where conditions B and C took particular values” (p.9).

It is argued by Higgins (1986, p24) that “comparative analysis is a methodology, rather than a substantive area of study and should be employed where it can illuminate specific questions and hypotheses”. When it comes to addressing issues in different countries, comparative analysts will engage in using different types of approaches. however, some will focus on “country specific studies detailing provisions but leaving the task of comparative evaluation to the reader” (Alcock, May and Wright, 2012, p.422).

They further illustrate that “while adopting an overt comparative approach, they start from different points on the policy compass and examine particular sectors, programs, problems, user needs or policy processes and attitudes and say that this is most likely in countries with broadly similar socio-economic and political structure” (p.422).

According to Jreisat (1992) that to be able to “describe and establish patterns as generalizations requires an appropriate framework that is capable of dealing with a variety of research challenges”. In order to manage any cross-national comparative research, it is important to understand issues within different countries of interest

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Ways of Applying Comparative Analysis in Scientific Research: Descriptive Essay [Internet]. Edubirdie. 2022 Aug 12 [cited 2024 Mar 29]. Available from: https://edubirdie.com/examples/ways-of-applying-comparative-analysis-in-scientific-research-descriptive-essay/
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