The Complexities of Comparative Research

If social science is to achieve valid universal theories, it is necessary to test them in as many different times and places as possible-hence the urgent need for more comparative research. To demonstrate this need, I review three recent instances wherein comparative research has revealed that (1) t...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Stark, Rodney 1934-2022 (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: [publisher not identified] [2008]
In: Interdisciplinary journal of research on religion
Year: 2008, Volume: 4, Pages: 1-15
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei registrierungspflichtig)

MARC

LEADER 00000caa a22000002 4500
001 1696742080
003 DE-627
005 20210708121547.0
007 cr uuu---uuuuu
008 200428s2008 xx |||||o 00| ||eng c
035 |a (DE-627)1696742080 
035 |a (DE-599)KXP1696742080 
040 |a DE-627  |b ger  |c DE-627  |e rda 
041 |a eng 
084 |a 0  |2 ssgn 
100 1 |e VerfasserIn  |0 (DE-588)115690662  |0 (DE-627)077408551  |0 (DE-576)16316505X  |4 aut  |a Stark, Rodney  |d 1934-2022 
109 |a Stark, Rodney 1934-2022  |a Stark, Rodney William 1934-2022  |a Luo De Ni Si Da Ke 1934-2022  |a Sidake, Luodeni 1934-2022  |a Luodeni Sidake 1934-2022 
245 1 4 |a The Complexities of Comparative Research 
264 1 |c [2008] 
336 |a Text  |b txt  |2 rdacontent 
337 |a Computermedien  |b c  |2 rdamedia 
338 |a Online-Ressource  |b cr  |2 rdacarrier 
520 |a If social science is to achieve valid universal theories, it is necessary to test them in as many different times and places as possible-hence the urgent need for more comparative research. To demonstrate this need, I review three recent instances wherein comparative research has revealed that (1) the proposition that religion functions to sustain the moral order is not universal, (2) most new religious movements are not the product of the discontent of the deprived but typically reflect the dissatisfactions of the privileged, and (3) the greater religiousness of women is not due to changes within Christianity but is a universal phenomenon. I then examine a set of pitfalls that often afflict quantitative comparative research that uses ecological or collective units of analysis such as nations or cities. Chief among these pitfalls are the ecological fallacy, cherry-picking of cases and variables, and the lack of comparability among cases. All three pitfalls are illustrated with recent examples. 
773 0 8 |i Enthalten in  |t Interdisciplinary journal of research on religion  |d [S.l.] : [s.n.], 2005  |g Volume 4 (2008), Article 4, Seite 1-15  |h Online-Ressource  |w (DE-627)513216359  |w (DE-600)2238178-8  |w (DE-576)28131120X  |x 1556-3723  |7 nnns 
773 1 8 |g volume:4  |g year:2008  |g pages:1-15 
856 4 0 |u http://www.religjournal.com/articles/article_view.php?id=25  |x Verlag  |z kostenfrei registrierungspflichtig  |3 Volltext 
936 u w |d 4  |j 2008  |h 1-15  |y Volume 4 (2008), Article 4, Seite 1-15 
951 |a AR 
ELC |a 1 
LOK |0 000 xxxxxcx a22 zn 4500 
LOK |0 001 3639811763 
LOK |0 003 DE-627 
LOK |0 004 1696742080 
LOK |0 005 20200428145739 
LOK |0 008 200428||||||||||||||||ger||||||| 
LOK |0 040   |a DE-Tue135  |c DE-627  |d DE-Tue135 
LOK |0 092   |o n 
LOK |0 852   |a DE-Tue135 
LOK |0 852 1  |9 00 
LOK |0 935   |a ixzs  |a rwrk 
OAS |a 1 
ORI |a SA-MARC-ixtheoa001.raw 
REL |a 1 
SUB |a REL