Historical-Comparative Research （历史比较研究）.pptVIP

Historical-Comparative Research (歷史比較研究) Social Research Methods Spring 2007 May 2~7, 2007 Historical-Comparative (H-C) Research To explain major societal processes (解釋主要的社會變遷過程) Sometimes difficult to understand H-C research More in basic research Founders of Sociology used H-C approach Research Questions Appropriate for H-C Research Powerful in addressing big questions (適合回答大問題) Examine the combinations of social factors producing a specific outcome (檢視一些社會因素如何造成特殊的結果) Compare social systems across societies(比較不同社會體系) Study long-tem societal changes (研究長期的社會變遷) Strengthen conceptualization and theory building (加強概念化及理論建構) The logic of H-C Research 注意: 研究者可運用實證、量化或質性、詮釋方法來研究歷史或比較的問題 H-C vs. Quantitative Research One nation or a small set of nations or many nations? A single time period in the past? Events across many years? The present or a recent time period? Primarily on quantitative or qualitative data? try to identify universal or near-universal processes (希望發現普世適用的社會過程) The logic of H-C and Interpretive Research Focuses on culture, see through the eyes of those being studied, reconstructs the lives of the people studied (歷史比較—詮釋研究: 焦點在文化，重新建構被研究者的生活) Often being criticized for its small number of cases (常被批評其個案較少) A distinct H-C Approach Combines a sensitivity to specific historical or cultural contexts with theoretical generalization (結合理論概化與對特殊歷史與文化脈絡的敏感) May use quantitative data to supplement qualitative data and analysis Logic and goals of H-C closer to those of field research Similarities of H-C to Field Research A researcher’s point of view is an unavoidable part of research (研究者的觀點是研究中不能避免的) Examine a great diversity of data (檢視大量資料) Often use grounded theory; theory emerging during data collection (經常使用紮根理論，理論是在資料蒐集中浮現) Translate a meaning system (詮釋/翻譯某種意義體系) Focus on action, process, and sequence; social reality created and changed by people (焦點在行動、過程順序，社會現實由人類創造及改變) Limited generalization depending on context (概化及理論受到脈絡的限制) Unique Features