General description

A starting lecture (6-8 hours) which functions as an introduction to comparative social policy analysis covering main approaches in comparative research. Articles dealing with methodologies of comparative research will be read and discussed. Students will analyze various comparative studies and write in pairs short papers based on given instructions.

Learning outcomes

The course provides students with an overview about comparative research in the field of social policy dealing with different approaches and traditions. The aim is that students will be able:

-to understand why comparisons are needed and done
-to recognize different kinds of approaches in comparative social policy research
-to identify different kinds of data that are used in comparative social policy research
-to name various methods that are used in comparative social policy research
-to learn to read comparative research reports with a critical eye

Contents

1) An introduction lecture on comparative social policy research. At least following questions will be covered: What explains the popularity and need of comparative research, what kinds of approaches can be distinguished and what types of data comparative analysis uses?
2) All students read texts covering methods of comparative research. Everybody will participate in discussion about comparative methodologies.
3) Students will read in pairs, with a critical stance, one piece of empirical comparative study. They will then produce a critical and an analytical review on what they have read and present it for others.

Teaching methods

Introductory lecture at the beginning of the course, the reading will be done individually, discussion and writing the papers will be supported by Moodle.
Attendance obligatory.

Teaching language

English

Evaluation

Numeric 1-5.

Study materials

 

Reading list:

-Kennett, Patricia: Comparative social policy. Theory and research. Buckingham: Open University Press, 2001.

- Clasen, Jochen (ed.): Comparative social policy: concepts, theories and methods. Oxford: Blackwell, 1999.

- Cochrane, Alan; Clarke, John & Gewirtz, Sharon (eds.): Comparing welfare states. London: Sage, 2001.

- Hantrais, Linda & Mangen, Steen (eds.): Cross-national research methods in the social sciences. London: Printer, 1996.

- Hantrais, Linda: Contextualization in cross-national comparative research. Social Research Methodology 2(2) 1999, 93–108.

- Walby, Sylvia: The myth of the nation-state: Theorizing society and polities in a global era. Sociology 37(3) 2003, 529–546.

- Smelser, Neil, J: On comparative analysis, interdisciplinarity and internationalization in sociology. International Sociology 18(4) 2003, 643–657.

Belongs to following study modules