Introduction to the Comparative Method (Daniele Caramani)

A systematic and concise introduction to why, what, and how to compare. It provides basic guidelines for comparative research by addressing all key methodological issues: case selection (type and number of units of analysis and selection bias), comparability, taxonomical treatment, and research design. The principles of comparative control are dealt with by stressing the logical foundations of comparative research: the role of classification, Mill’s methods, necessary and sufficient conditions, and Boolean algebra dealing with binary information. Background: undergraduate and graduate courses in Mannheim and Florence.

Deliverables:

• Caramani, Daniele (2009). Introduction to the Comparative Method With Boolean Algebra. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage (Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences). Chinese translation published in 2012.