Methodological Trade Off And Building Theory

Question 1

What are the strengths of many country studies?

Answer 1

1. The comparison of many countries provide statistical control.
2. It reduces the problem of selection bias
3. It gives an extensive comparative scope
4. It identifies deviant cases more easily and can help in studying them closely
5. It provides for better specification measurement of key variable for generalization.

Question 2

What is the weakness of comparing many countries

Answer 2

The problem of validation of measurement of concepts across the several countries under study such that they have the same values

Question 3

What are the strengths of few countries study?

Answer 3

1. It provides control through the use of MSSD, MDSD or both designs
2. It uses concepts and variables that may be more sensitive to the nuances of the particular political context under investigation
3. It allows for historical and intensive examination of cases that are not possible in studies with large number of countries
4. Few country studies have lower levels of abstraction.
5. They are good for extending generalization beyond the immediate scope of countries included in the analysis.
6. Few country studies focus more on countries within their purview / scope.

Question 4

What is the weakness of few countries study

Answer 4

The problem of few countries study is Selection bias.

Question 5

What are the strengths of single country studies?

Answer 5

1. There is usually great variation
2. They are useful for comparative analysis if they make use of exclusive comparative concepts or generate new concepts for application in countries beyond the original study
3. Single country studies can generate hypotheses
4. They can be used to confirm and infirm theories
5. It allows for intensive examination of deviant cases
6. They are useful for process training
7. They are useful for uncovering causal mechanisms implied by the result of studies within a large number of countries

Question 6

What is the weakness associated with single country studies

Answer 6

Single country studies have serious difficulty in making generalizations applicable at the global level