Comparative Research

The Goal of Comparative Research

The underlying goal of comparative research is to search for similarity and variation between the entities that are the object of comparison. The examination of similarity often means the application of a more general theory and a search for universals or underlying [Page 101]general processes across different contexts or categories. The ontology of patterns or categories is assumed to be universal and independent of time and space. In other words, the comparison should be broad enough to allow researchers to compare at a “higher level” of abstraction. However, it remains difficult to determine these general patterns. For this reason, comparative research is often used to separate patterns that are more general and isolate regularities or discrepancies from the context-laden environment. Following Max Weber's comparative sociology, for example, the search for variance places more emphasis on context and difference so as to understand specificities. Comparisons not only uncover differences between social entities but also reveal unique aspects of a particular entity that would be virtually impossible to detect otherwise.

Examples of Comparative Qualitative Research

The majority of qualitative research relies on some type of comparison either to establish regularities, categorizations, and links or to understand phenomena within the context they are observed and experienced. Because comparison is often a key aspect in studies, there are numerous examples of comparative research across a variety of topics and disciplines. Several examples aid us in understanding how we can use these methods to engage in a comparative study design.

A well-known type of comparative analysis used in qualitative research is Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss's technique of “constant comparative analysis” derived from the sociological theory of symbolic interactionism. The central task is to compare one piece of data with all others to compare similarities and differences. Data may be in the form of an interview, a statement, a theme, or another specified unit. These comparisons are used to develop categories and conceptualizations and then to examine potential relationships between these categories. The researcher then compares each new interview, account, or observation until all of them have been compared. This technique is frequently used in narrative research. Using the lens of phenomenological theory, for example, George Butte examined the historical shift in literary subjectivity and intersubjectivity via a comparative analysis of 18th- and 19th-century English novels. Comparative analysis is a useful technique to establish general phenomena such as processes of marital breakdown, stages of grieving or coping with illness, and other fundamental processes.

...