Comparative Methods in the Social Sciences

Comparative Methods in the Social Sciences PDF

Author: Neil J. Smelser

Publisher: Quid Pro Books

Published: 2013-02-28

Total Pages: 389

ISBN-13: 1610271777

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Even after teaching generations of social scientists, Neil Smelser's classic book remains the most definitive statement of methodological issues for all comparative scholars and in political science, anthropology, sociology, economics and psychology. Such issues are timeless and therefore Smelser's lucid analysis remains timely and relevant. Smelser posits a methodological continuity between the comparative studies of past masters and the more recent flow of contemporary comparative work. To that end, he takes a pragmatic, critical look at the classic studies of Alexis de Tocqueville, Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber. His analyses respect the historical specifics and contexts of their work, but at the same time raise general issues such as cross-unit comparability, empirical representation of theoretical concepts and measures, and historical causality. The book also deals with the ongoing flows of comparative study in the social sciences, which, while methodologically more self-conscious than past work, nevertheless face a common set of issues, including causation and classification. The book's unique clarity makes it particularly useful for working scholars as well as students fighting their way through the methodological thickets of comparative studies.

Comparative Methods in Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

Comparative Methods in Law, Humanities and Social Sciences PDF

Author: Adams, Maurice

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

Published: 2021-11-19

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 1802201467

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This cutting-edge book facilitates debate amongst scholars in law, humanities and social sciences, where comparative methodology is far less well anchored in most areas compared to other research methods. It posits that these are disciplines in which comparative research is not simply a bonus, but is of the essence.

Comparative Methods in the Social Sciences

Comparative Methods in the Social Sciences PDF

Author: Alan Sica

Publisher: SAGE Publications Limited

Published: 2006-02-13

Total Pages: 376

ISBN-13:

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Comparative research methods are central to sociology and its associated disciplines. This four-volume set brings together 77 articles and book chapters from key sources, spanning the history of comparative analysis in the social sciences, from ancient to modern works. The selections cover not only explanations of how to carry out comparative analysis in a reliable and creative way, but also exhaustively explore the fields of sociology, political science, anthropology and education. VOLUME ONE: Foundations and Early Exemplars VOLUME TWO: The Logic of Comparative Methods VOLUME THREE: Data (Sources and Problems) and Contemporary Exemplars VOLUME FOUR: Qualitative and Quantitative Research: Problems and Prospects

Comparative-Historical Methods

Comparative-Historical Methods PDF

Author: Matthew Lange

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2012-11-12

Total Pages: 210

ISBN-13: 1446291286

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This bright, engaging title provides a thorough and integrated review of comparative-historical methods. It sets out an intellectual history of comparative-historical analysis and presents the main methodological techniques employed by researchers, including: - comparative-historical analysis, - case-based methods, - comparative methods - data, case selection and theory. Matthew Lange has written a fresh, easy to follow introduction which showcases classic analyses, offers clear methodological examples and describes major methodological debates. It is a comprehensive, grounded book which understands the learning and research needs of students and researchers.

The Comparative Method

The Comparative Method PDF

Author: Charles C. Ragin

Publisher: Univ of California Press

Published: 2014-07-18

Total Pages: 216

ISBN-13: 0520957350

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Charles C. Ragin’s The Comparative Method proposes a synthetic strategy, based on an application of Boolean algebra, that combines the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative sociology. Elegantly accessible and germane to the work of all the social sciences, and now updated with a new introduction, this book will continue to garner interest, debate, and praise.

Doing Research in Political Science

Doing Research in Political Science PDF

Author: Paul Pennings

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2005-11-11

Total Pages: 336

ISBN-13: 1446226905

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This is an immensely helpful book for students starting their own research... an excellent introduction to the comparative method giving an authoritative overview over the research process - Klaus Armingeon, University of Bern Doing Research in Political Science is the book for mastering the comparative method in all the social sciences - Jan-Erik Lane, University of Geneva This book has established itself as a concise and well-readable text on comparative methods and statistics in political science I...strongly recommend it. - Dirk Berg-Schlosser, Philipps-University Marburg This thoroughly revised edition of the popular textbook offers an accessible but comprehensive introduction to comparative research methods and statistics for students of political science. Clearly organized around three parts, the text introduces the main theories and methodologies used in the discipline. Part 1 frames the comparative approach within the methodological framework of the political and social sciences. Part 2 introduces basic descriptive and inferential statistical methods as well as more advanced multivariate methods used in quantitative political analysis. Part 3 applies the methods and techniques of Parts 1 & 2 to research questions drawn from contemporary themes and issues in political science. Incorporating practice exercises, ideas for further reading and summary questions throughout, Doing Research in Political Science provides an invaluable step-by-step guide for students and researchers in political science, comparative politics and empirical political analysis.

Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences

Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences PDF

Author: Donatella Della Porta

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2008-08-28

Total Pages: 366

ISBN-13: 1139474596

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A revolutionary textbook introducing masters and doctoral students to the major research approaches and methodologies in the social sciences. Written by an outstanding set of scholars, and derived from successful course teaching, this volume will empower students to choose their own approach to research, to justify this approach, and to situate it within the discipline. It addresses questions of ontology, epistemology and philosophy of social science, and proceeds to issues of methodology and research design essential for producing a good research proposal. It also introduces researchers to the main issues of debate and contention in the methodology of social sciences, identifying commonalities, historic continuities and genuine differences.

Innovative Comparative Methods for Policy Analysis

Innovative Comparative Methods for Policy Analysis PDF

Author: Benoit Rihoux

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2006-03-20

Total Pages: 347

ISBN-13: 0387288295

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Innovative Comparative Methods for Policy Analysis aims to provide a decisive push to the further development and application of innovative and specific comparative methods for the improvement of policy analysis. To take on this challenge, this volume brings together methodologists and specialists from a broad range of social scientific disciplines and policy fields. The work further develops methods for systematic comparative cases analysis in a small-N research design, with a key emphasis laid on policy-oriented applications. Innovative Comparative Methods for Policy Analysis is clearly both a social scientific and policy-driven endeavor; on the one hand, the book engages in an effort to further improve social scientific methods, but on the other hand this effort also intends to provide useful, applied tools for policy analysts and the "policy community" alike. Though quite a variety of methods and techniques are touched upon in this volume, its focus is mainly laid on two recently developed research methods/techniques which enable researchers to systematically compare a limited number of cases; Qualitative Comparative Analysis(QCA) and Fuzzy-Sets (FS).

Configurational Comparative Methods

Configurational Comparative Methods PDF

Author: Benoît Rihoux

Publisher: SAGE

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 241

ISBN-13: 1412942357

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This new addition to the Applied Social Research Methods series is unrivalled, it is written by leaders in the growing field of rigorous, comparative techniques.

Comparative Historical Analysis in the Social Sciences

Comparative Historical Analysis in the Social Sciences PDF

Author: James Mahoney

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2003-02-10

Total Pages: 476

ISBN-13: 9780521016452

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This book systematically investigates the past accomplishments and future agendas of contemporary comparative-historical analysis. Its core essays explore three major issues: the accumulation of knowledge in the field over the past three decades, the analytic tools used to study temporal process and historical patterns, and the methodologies available for making inferences and for building theories. The introductory and concluding essays situate the field as a whole by comparing it to alternative approaches within the social sciences. Comparative Historical Analysis in the Social Sciences will serve as an invaluable resource for scholars in the field, and it will represent a challenge to many other social scientists - especially those who have raised skeptical concerns about comparative-historical analysis in the past.