Подходы в сравнительных социальных исследованиях

2023/2024

Статус: Маго-лего

Кто читает: Департамент социологии

Когда читается: 2, 3 модуль

Охват аудитории: для своего кампуса

Язык: английский

Кредиты: 6

Контактные часы: 40

Full Syllabus

Abstract

The ability to compare effectively involves the ability to be clearheaded about what is to be compared. Questions regarding the “unit of analysis/comparison” are therefore at the center of any comparative endeavor in sociology and the social sciences more generally. These questions are approached in this course primarily from a meta-theoretical vantage point. Accordingly, we will focus not so much on “what is compared” as on “what sort of thing is compared” and on “how to go about comparing it.” This course is designed to be a broad orientation to the different methodologies featured in the program in International Master in Comparative Social Research. The goal at hand is to strengthen whatever weaknesses the course attendees may have on the topic and to improve their ability to become, down the road, intelligent about methodology as well as proficient.

Learning Objectives

to study seminal texts in comparative social research
to learn basic concepts of comparative social research
to be able to construct productive research questions using approaches of comparative sociology
to learn to build comparative research designs in comparative social research
to be able to distinguish and apply various social data to comparative research questions
to learn to criticize and evaluate the quality of outcome of different forms of comparison

Expected Learning Outcomes

be able to meaningfully construct comparative research questions
understand basic principles of comparative social research
be able to criticize comparative studies
model comparative research designs in comparative social research

Course Contents

Introduction
Two Programs of Comparative Social Research
Conceptionalizing Types of Comparison
Variables and Cases in Comparative Research Designs
Empirical Cross-national Comparative Research
Issues of Qualitative Comparative Research
Case-Orientated & Small N Comparison
Central Issues of Comparative Social Analysis I
Central Issues of Comparative Social Analysis II
Central Issues of Comparative Social Analysis III

Assessment Elements

Test
At the beginning of each session (except the first), a short multiple-choice test will be conducted on the basis of the readings for the respective session. The grade for this assignment will be compiled from the results of the best of 8 out of 9 tests (thus, one pass of participation in the testing will be allowed)
Position Paper
A position paper is a ca. one-two pages long text (single-spaced, font size 12) of ca. 800 words, which conveys a student’s individual position on a particular paper from the reading list. The position paper is written on one text of choice and has to be submitted at the latest before (!) the respective session, where this paper is going to be discussed, starts. The positions paper should contain a short summary of the read and to be discussed text (max. 50% of the position paper’s length). In addition, and foremost (!), the paper should develop (an) own idea(s) and critique in reaction to the text on the basis of own additional readings, own research experience, own knowledge, etc..
Class Presentation
Each student should present a short introduction into the main thoughts of one text of choice. This text should NOT be the same text, the student is basing his/her position paper on! The presentation should not be longer than 10 min and should use visual aids. At the end, the presentation should pose one-two critical questions based on the reading for general class discussion.
Final Essay
The final essay should not exceed max. 5 pages and should not be longer than 2500 words (single-spaced, font size 12). The essay poses two tasks: task 1: develop a topic for an empirical comparative research project task 2: develop a research design under usage of and reference to concepts of comparative social research from the course readings The essay should describe a topic for a comparative social research project and address a research question. Furthermore, an appropriate (!) research design should be developed, including a case selection strategy (what is a case?) and the form of comparison envisioned. Finally, some remarks should describe a possible explanatory model, the main concepts and an analytical strategy. This assignment should be understood as a chance to try out an idea for a possible MA diploma research project.

Interim Assessment

2023/2024 3rd module
0.2 * Class Presentation + 0.3 * Final Essay + 0.2 * Position Paper + 0.3 * Test

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Blyton, P. (2001). The General and the Particular in Cross-National Comparative Research. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 50(4), 590–595. https://doi.org/10.1111/1464-0597.00074
Font, J., della Porta, D., & Sintomer, Y. (2012). Presentation. Methodological challenges in participation research. Revista Internacional de Sociología, (Extra_2), 9. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsdoj&AN=edsdoj.800e74344fc48fa94f8da80b7c6579b
Lieberson, S. (1991). Small N’s and Big Conclusions: An Examination of the Reasoning in Comparative Studies Based on a Small Number of Cases. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.5ACBF27C
Lijphart, A. (2011). Democratic Quality in Stable Democracies. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.A9BD1B40
Smelser, N. J. (1994). Sociological theories. International Social Science Journal, 46(139), 1. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=sih&AN=9504100912
Soskice, D. (2005). Varieties of Capitalism and Cross-National Gender Differences. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.CAFCCDD2
Tilly, C. (DE-588)121677117, (DE-576)163318476, 1929-2008. (2007). Democracy / Charles Tilly. Cambridge [u.a.]: Cambridge Univ. Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.263615383
Wiseman, A. W., & Popov, N. (2015). Comparative Science : Interdisciplinary Approaches (Vol. First edition). Bingley, England: Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=993133

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Crawford, B., & Lijphart, A. (1997). Liberalization and Leninist Legacies: Comparative Perspectives on Democratic Transitions. United States, North America: eScholarship, University of California. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.DB007F5
Hall, T. D. (2017). Comparing Globalizations : Historical and World-Systems Approaches. Cham: Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1636710
Iversen, T., & Soskice, D. (2005). Electoral institutions, parties, and the politics of class: Why some democracies redistribute more than others. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.65DCFAFA
Kucera, D. (2007). Qualitative Indicators of Labour Standards : Comparative Methods and Applications. Dordrecht: Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=196760
Rainer Bauböck, Donatella Della Porta, Ignacio Lago, & Camil Ungureanu. (2012). What methodological “wars” methodological pluralism? Revista Española de Ciencia Política, (29), 11. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsdoj&AN=edsdoj.2385852644e540ab804dd172189cabdd
Stroschein, S. (2004). From Contention to Coexistence in Local Politics: Mixed Cities in Central Europe. Conference Papers —— American Political Science Association, 1–34. https://doi.org/apsa_proceeding_29943.PDF
Tilly, C. (1998). Democratization. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edssch&AN=edssch.oai%3aescholarship.org%2fark%3a%2f13030%2fqt98t901j5

Course Syllabus