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

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 + +

Strategies of Comparative Analysis Introduction Two Related Strategies … Within-case comparison Analytical induction 1945-1960 1961-1987 1987-2006

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

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.

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) ____________________________________________ ?

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?

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!

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

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

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?

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 …

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

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

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.

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

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

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” ?

Strategies of Comparative Analysis Within-Case Comparison Example of a within-case comparison: South Korea, 1945-1961 and 1961-1987

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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?

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?

Strategies of Comparative Analysis Setting Up a Mixed Design 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?

Strategies of Comparative Analysis Setting Up a Mixed Design Homicide by Circumstance in the U.S., 1976-2004 General statistics are important, but good comparative analysis also requires specific data

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

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

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