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Comparative methodology and statistics in political science

|CONTENTS | |
|1.1 Introduction |3 |
|1.2 The Comparative Approach to Political and Social Science: | |
|Theory and Method |6 |
|1.3 Comparing Data: Selecting Cases and Variables |8 |
|1.4 Developing Empirical-Analytical Comparative Analysis |13 |
|1.5 How to Use This Book |15 |
|1.6 Endmatter |16 |
|Topics highlighted |16 |
|Questions |16 |
|Exercises |16 |
|Further reading |17 |

1. Introduction

Almost everyone watches daily TV, regularly reads a daily newspaper and often discusses what goes on in the world. These activities shape our views on society and, in particular, influence our views on and perspective of the role and impact of politics on societal developments. In this era of easy access to electronic communication (e.g. Internet), worldwide TV coverage of events (e.g. CNN) and rapid changes in the political mapping of the world (globalization), one is confronted not only with a multitude of bits and pieces of information, but also with various