Comparative Method in Sociological Research - 2331 Words

The Phrase â€Å"comparative method† refers to the method of comparing different societies or groups within the same society to show whether and why they are similar or different in certain respects. Both Montesquieu and Auguste Comte, often regarded as the founders of sociology, used or recommended ‘comparison’ to establish and explain both differences and similarities between societies. The comparative method was for long considered the method par excellence of sociology. According to Andre Beteille, comparative method is used distinctly by two sets of scholars. Firstly, the ‘enthusiasts’ those who make cross board analysis. These include Edward Tylor, Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim and Radcliff Brown . Secondly the ‘skeptics’- those who†¦show more content†¦His study gas been called â€Å"diachronic† but in complete, there should be a combination of diachronic and synchronic study Bronislaw Malinowski believed in the fundamental sameness of human beings. He looked into every detail of society and culture among The Trobriand Islanders, and brought their complex interrelations to light. Amongst the islanders lagoon fishing is done with the help of skill and rationality, since there are no dangers attached to it. However in the case of deep sea fishing, which is dangerous there are rituals which he interprets as magic performed before the event. Therefore he compares two activities among The Trobrianders. Max Weber used the comparative method in almost all his writings, especially those analyzing the distinctiveness of western society and culture, as compared to those of other civilizations. He produced extensive studies of the traditional Chinese Empire. India and the Near East, and in the course of these researches make major contributions to the Sociology of Religion. Through these comparisons he throws light on the relationship between Protestantism and Capitalism. According to him, oneShow MoreRelatedGraduation Speech : Senior Honors Program1321 Words   |  6 Pagestransferring to UC Berkeley in the Fall of 2015, many of the courses I have taken have focused on research and its importance to the field of sociology. The continued exposure to the diverse topics of sociological research, as well as the varied methods researchers use to collect their data, has shown me that many of questions I ask about the social world on a daily basis are potential sociological research projects. I find this fact to be inspiring as opposed to overwhelming, and I believe that theRead MoreThemes Of Immigration Issues937 Words   |  4 Pagesmy own life. The empirical method analzyes any issues in a structured and unbiased way. The phenomenon in this case is immigration. Should we welcome more people or should we kick them out? What issues does immigration cause and or solve? Who should be denied entrance and who should be permitted? Who makes that choice? All these factors are examined closely to explain the cause of the issue and its effects on the population. Putting all together the Empirical method lets us understand the situationRead MoreEssay about The Sociological Framework of Harriet Martineau1007 Words   |  5 PagesThe Sociological Framework of Harriet Martineau Over the past twenty years, sociology has gone through a process of self-evaluation, as field researchers and observers express a wariness about the empty universalism of speculative systems and look for ways in which to secure empirical foundations that give way to meaningful application in a pluralistic, postmodern world. The survival of sociology as a critical theoretical discipline is a concern expressed by many, such as contemporary social analystRead MoreRequest For Conversion Of An Advance Contract1683 Words   |  7 PagesStudy Methods: Foundations and Guidelines for Comparing, Matching, and Tracing In their first book with the University of Michigan Press, Process-Tracing Methods: Foundations and Guidelines (2013), Derek Beach and Rasmus Brun Pedersen not only developed the underlying logic of process tracing but also provided a practical guide for employing this method in social science research. Now they do the same for additional causal case study methods, including small-n comparative and congruence methods asRead MoreThe Political Decision Making Sphere2002 Words   |  9 PagesThe study of comparative politics is largely influenced by the conflicting importance placed on ‘institutions’ by theorists and researchers alike. This split is broadly characterised by its relationship to other actors in the political decision making sphere, most notably ‘the state’. This paper aims to initially define institutions, demonstrating its vast characterisations, before assessing their real value in comparative research. It will then compare this value with tha t of traditional theoriesRead More Comparing Webers and Durkheims Methodological Contributions to Sociology1727 Words   |  7 Pageswhat Positivists are and how their methodologies influence and affect their research. It will also consider what interpretative sociology is, and why their type of methodology is used when carrying out research. It will analyse both Durkheims study of Suicide and also Webers study of The Protestant work ethic, and hopefully establish how each methodology was used for each particular piece of research, and why. Emile Durkhiem, in sociology terminology is considered toRead MoreThe Effects Of Mass Communication On A Critical Branch Of Sociological Thought From 20th Century Social Thought1262 Words   |  6 Pagesof the intellectual inheritance of cognitive behaviourism from 20th century social thought, I now want to turn my attention to a critical branch of sociological thought from the same period to assist in analysing this set of ideas. C. Wright Mills worked in the immediate post war period as a research assistant to Elihu Katz and Paul Lazarsfeld’s research on the media effects of mass communication. The majority of their work sought to understand the persuasive influence of mediated messages in printRead MoreA Study Of Latin American History1308 Words   |  6 PagesIV. Methodologies and trends Caribbean Many often consider the study of Latin American history or subjects like race to show that Much of Latin American historical studies are comparative. Many of the Latin American countries have their own history but share similar cultural conductions concerning race. The history of race relations in Latin America has become a central theme in a fair amount of scholarly activities. This in turn has made the historiography of Latin America to become much more relevantRead MoreThe Sociological Perspective Of Dramaturgy Is Associated With Irving Goffman1041 Words   |  5 Pages The sociological perspective of dramaturgy is associated with Irving Goffman (1922 – 1982) who developed the concept in his book The Presentation Of The Self In Everyday Life (1959). Using theatre as an extended metaphor, dramaturgy explains the everyday interactions that uphold social reality. Life is like a play, and like actors in a play, people perform roles, working in teams to create the social world, like scenes in a play. This provides functional institutions of work, school, home, hospitalsRead MoreThe Nature Of Research Activity783 Words   |  4 PagesChapter 1: The Nature of Research Activity 1.1: 2. Non-empirical 4. Empirical 6. Empirical Activity 1.2: 2. B 4. A 6. B Activity 1.3: 2. D 4. B 6. A Activity 1.3: 2. D 4. I 6. D 8. A â€Æ' Chapter One Answer Questions: 1. Speculation, procedures, and conclusions are not scientific unless they are made public. Is this true? Discuss. The claim: â€Å"Speculation, procedures and conclusions are not scientific unless they are made public.†, can be considered as true and applicable as one of the main characteristics