Comparative Politics and the Comparative Method

Specific ways and means of minimizing the "many variables, small N' problem of the comparative method. These may be divided into four categories

(1) Increase the number of cases as much as possible (2) Reduce the "property-space" of the analysis (3) Focus on the comparative analysis on "comparable" cases (4) Focus the comparative analysis on the "key" variables.

(1) Increase the number of cases as much as possible

Any enlargement of the sample, however small, improves the chances of instituting at least some control.

Theory-confirming and Theory-infirming Case Studies

Are analyses of single cases within the framework of established generalizations

Deviant Case analysis

Are studies of single cases that are known to deviate from established generalizations

6 types of Case Studies

Atheoretical, Interpretative, Hypothesis-generating, Theory confirming, Theory-infirming, and Deviant case studies

Advantage of Case Study

By focusing on a single case, that case can be intensively examined.

Scientific Explanation

Consists of two elements: (1) the establishment of general empirical relationships among two or more variables, while (2) all other variables are controlled, and that is, held constant (rarely used in political science because of practical and ethical impediments)

Theory-building Case Studies

Hypothesis-generating, Theory-confirming, Theory-infirming, and Deviant Case Studies

(2) Reduce the "property-space" of the analysis

If the sample of cases cannot be increased, it may be possible to combine two or more variables that express an essentially similar underlying characteristic into a single variable (thus the number of cells in the matrix representing the relationship is reduced, and the number of cases in each cell increased correspondingly

The Experimental Method

In its simplest form, uses two equivalent groups, one which (the experimental group) is exposed to a stimulus while the other (the control group) is not.

(3) Focus the comparative analysis on "comparable" cases

In this context, "comparable" means: similar in a large number of important characteristics (variables) which one wants to treat as constant, but dissimilar as far as those variables are concerned which one wants to relate to each other.

Statistical Method

It entails the conceptual (mathematical) manipulation of empirically observed data - which cannot be manipulated situationally as in experimental design - in order to discover controlled relationships among variables (cannot handle the the problem of control)

Comparative Method: Weakness

Many variables, small number of cases

partial correlations

Measures the relationship between two variables while mathematically controlling the influence of a third variable by holding it constant

Hypothesis-generating Case Studies

Start out with a more or less vague notion of a possible hypotheses, and attempts to formulate definite hypotheses to be tested subsequently among a larger number of cases

Comparative Method v. Statical Method

The number of cases it deals with is too small to permit systematic control by means of partial correlations

(4) Focus the comparative analysis on the "key" variables

The problem of "many variables" may be alleviated not only by some of the specific approaches suggested above but also by a general commitment to theoretical parsimony. Must therefore judiciously restrict itself to the really key variables, omitting those of only marginal importance

Interpretative Case Studies resemblance of Atheoretical Case Studies

They, too, are selected for analysis because of an interest in the case rather than an interest in the formulation of general theory

Atheoretical and Interpretative Case Studies

Traditional single-country or singe-case analyses. They are entirely descriptive and move in a theoretical vacuum.

Micro replications

designed "to test out in other national and cultural settings a proposition already validated in one setting."

Macro hypothesis

interrelations of structural elements of total systems; the number of cases tend to be limited, and one has to rely on the comparative method

ceteris paribus

with other conditions remaining the same (vital to empirical generalizations)