pols 373 foundations of comparative politics comparative strategies lecture april 10, 2007

POLS 373 Foundations of Comparative Politics

Comparative Strategies Lecture

April 10, 2007

2

Strategies of Comparative Strategies of Comparative AnalysisAnalysis

IntroductionIntroduction

Basic Strategies of Comparative Analysis Case study Binary or two-unit analysis Multi-unit analysis (3 or more units)

Mixed design

++++

3

Two Related Strategies …

Within-case comparison

Analytical induction

1945-19601961-19871987-2006


IntroductionIntroduction

4

The Case StudyThe Case Study

In-depth examination of a single In-depth examination of a single “case”“case”


Case StudyCase Study

5

What is a case? What is a case? A Very Basic DefinitionA Very Basic Definition

1. A specific issue or concern (e.g., terrorism, industrialization, revolution, a social movement)

2. A delimited geographic space (Japan, France, California, Moscow)

3. A certain period of time

Concrete ExamplesConcrete Examples: :

1.1. Far-left terrorism in post-war ItalyFar-left terrorism in post-war Italy

2.2. Japanese industrialization between 1945 and 1975Japanese industrialization between 1945 and 1975

3.3. The economic effects of NAFTA on Mexican The economic effects of NAFTA on Mexican immigration to the U.S.immigration to the U.S.


What is a Case?What is a Case?

6

Identify your own “cases” based on Identify your own “cases” based on the specified criteria (the specified criteria (a specific issue or concern, a delimited geographic space, a certain period of time)

____________________________________________ ?

____________________________________________ ?

____________________________________________ ?



7

How is an in-depth study of a How is an in-depth study of a singlesingle “case” comparative? “case” comparative?



Hmm … can I compare thisHmm … can I compare thisapple to itself?apple to itself?

8



How To Do a Case StudyHow To Do a Case Study

Not all case studies are comparative

To do a comparative case study, two basic “rules” must be followed:

1. Seeing your case in relation to others: This requires you to be familiar both with similar and dissimilar cases.

1. 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



Simple maxim of doing case studies in comparative perspective:Simple maxim of doing case studies in comparative perspective:

Think comparatively, but deeply and systematically

Simple maxim of doing case studies in comparative perspective:Simple maxim of doing case studies in comparative perspective:

Think comparatively, but deeply and systematically

10



Think comparativelyExample: 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 systematicallyExample: Don’t stop with a couple of simple or simplistic comparisons; develop and follow a well-thought out, coherent and logical research design

11


The Case Study: LimitationsThe Case Study: Limitations

A single case study, while it may aim at generalization, can never hit the bull’s-eye

Why not?

12



Why can’t a case study in comparative perspective ever hit the “bull’s eye” of generalization?

The answer? ______________________

small-n problemSmall-n problem

What’s a “small-n”?We’ll return to this question shortly …

What’s a “small-n”?We’ll return to this question shortly …

13



Despite its limitations, case studies Despite its limitations, case studies can still serve an indispensable can still serve an indispensable social scientific role …social scientific role …

… … as an as an empirical/theoretical stepping empirical/theoretical stepping stone or building blockstone or building block

Compararativists whoCompararativists whofollow this path use afollow this path use astrategy calledstrategy called______________________________________

analytical analytical inductioninduction

14



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

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inductive_reasoning

15


Binary or Two-Unit ComparisonsBinary or Two-Unit Comparisons

A Simple Lesson About Binary A Simple Lesson About Binary ComparisonsComparisons

All you really need to know (for All you really need to know (for now): binary or two-unit now): binary or two-unit comparisons follow the logic of comparisons follow the logic of either the MSS either the MSS oror MDS design. MDS design.

16


Binary or Two-Unit ComparisonsBinary or Two-Unit Comparisons

Binary Comparisons: Binary Comparisons: A CaveatA 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


The Small-N ProblemThe Small-N Problem

The Case Study and Binary Analysis: The “Small-N” ProblemThe 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


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


Within-Case ComparisonWithin-Case Comparison

Example of a within-case comparison: South Korea, 1945-1961 and 1961-1987

20


Multi-unit Comparisons (3+ Multi-unit Comparisons (3+ units)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



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



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 comparativeresearch?

It depends

23


Mixed DesignMixed 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

++++ ++MSSMSS

MDSMDS

24


Mixed DesignMixed 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

++++ ++MSSMSS

MDSMDS

25


Setting Up a Mixed DesignSetting Up a Mixed Design

International Homicide Rates, 2000For selected countries

Rate per 100,000

Country Rate per 100,000

Country

50.14 South Africa _1.79 France 21.40 Russia (1999) _1.76 Canada 10.00 Lithuania _1.61 England & Wales _9.94 Estonia _1.54 Belgium _6.22 Latvia _1.50 Greece _5.64 U.S.A. _1.48 Ireland (Eire) _2.94 Spain _1.42 Netherlands _2.86 Finland _1.42 Italy _2.84 Northern

Ireland _1.41 Slovenia

_2.72 Czech Republic _1.24 Portugal _2.65 Slovakia _1.17 Germany _2.58 New Zealand _1.10 Japan _2.50 Romania _1.09 Norway _2.31 Turkey (1999) _1.09 Denmark _2.23 Poland _1.06 Malta _2.11 Scotland _1.01 Austria _2.04 Hungary _0.96 Switzerland _1.97 Sweden _0.60 Cyprus _1.81 Australia

Source: Gordon Baclay & Cynthia Tavares, Research Development & Statistics Directorate (Home Office, United Kingdom), International comparisons of criminal justice statistics 2000, July 2, 2002 (London). Available on the internet: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs2/hosb502.pdf

From this very general data, are any possible comparative cases evident?

What other data do you need?

26



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?

Country Year Firearm

Homicide Total

Homicide

% Households With Guns

Mauritius 1993 0 2.35 n/a

Ja pan 1994 0.02 0.62 n/a

Singapore 1994 0.07 1.71 n/a

Sweden 1993 0.18 1.3 15.1

Germany 1994 0.22 1.17 8.9

Hungary 1994 0.23 3.53 n/a

Denmark 1993 0.23 1.21 n/a

Norway 1993 0.3 0.97 32

Slovenia 1994 0.35 2.01 n/a

Austria 1994 0.42 1.17 n/a

France 1994 0.44 1.12 22.6

Australia 1994 0.44 1.86 19.4

Switzerland 1994 0.58 1.32 27.2

Belgium 1990 0.6 1.41 16.6

Canada 1992 0.76 2.16 29.1

Finland 1994 0.86 3.24 23.2

Taiwan 1996 0.97 8.12 n/a

Portugal 1994 1.28 2.98 n/a

Argentina 1994 2.11 4.51 n/a

United States 1993 3.72 5.7 39

N. Irel and 1994 5.24 6.09 8.4

Estonia 1994 8.07 28.21 n/a

Mexico 1994 9.88 17.58 n/a

Brazil 1993 10.58 19.04 n/a

27



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?

Comparison of homicide in selected cities (2000, except were indicated)

City # of Homicides Homicide Rate Lefkosia, Cyprus 0 0.00 Athens, Greece 17 0.53 Edinburgh, Scotland 5 1.10 Oslo, Norway 6 1.18 Tokyo, Japan 151 1.24 Berlin, Germany 76 2.20 London, England 189 2.59 Prague, Czech Republic 49 3.30 Paris, France 88 4.10 Belfast, N. Ireland 21 7.3 New York, USA 673 8.69 Tallinn, Estonia 39 9.73 Vilnius, Lithuania 59 10.20 Moscow, Russia (1999) 1,206 18.85 Washington, DC USA 232 41.78 Pretoria, South Africa (1997) 527 43.00 Note: in 1996, the homicide rate in Washington, D.C. was 73.11. This was the highest recorded rate of all major cities between the period 1996 and 2000.

28



Trends of Homicide Victimization in the United States, 1950-2004

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



Homicide by Circumstance in the U.S., 1976-2004 General statistics

are important, but good comparative analysis also requires specific data

30



Some Other Data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Department of Justice

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/homicide

31



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 NOTNECESSARY, BUT NOTENOUGHENOUGH

32



Mixed Design Strategies: Based on our (very limited) research, what combination of research principles (logic) and strategies can we use for our “mixed design”?

1. ______________________________________2. ______________________________________3. ______________________________________4. ______________________________________5. ______________________________________

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?

++++ ++MSSMSS

MDSMDS

What comparative logics would you use?

pols 373 foundations of comparative politics comparative strategies lecture april 10, 2007

Documents

comparative case study

single case comparative

case studies

single case study

comparative perspective

case study simple maxim

indepth study

related strategies