New Books in Sociology
John Boswell et al., "The Art and Craft of Comparison" (Cambridge UP, 2019)
Mar 3, 2025
John Boswell, a Politics professor at the University of Southampton, and Jack Corbett, a Politics professor at Monash University, delve into their book, 'The Art and Craft of Comparison.' They discuss the innovative blend of comparative and interpretive methods in research. The duo emphasizes the value of personal narratives over AI tools in qualitative analysis and shares tips for early-career researchers. They also reflect on writing dilemmas and the significance of manual engagement in the research process, advocating for a creative and immersive approach.
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Quick takeaways
- The book uniquely combines comparative and interpretive methods, advocating for nuanced insights through the analysis of dilemmas across different contexts.
- The authors emphasize a confessional tone and personal anecdotes to enhance the relatability and reflexivity of qualitative research in comparative politics.
Deep dives
The Unique Approach to Comparative Research
The book emphasizes a distinctive perspective on comparative research that incorporates an interpretive approach, which was relatively unexplored at the time of its writing. The authors aimed to challenge the traditional reliance on detailed single case studies, advocating instead for interpretive comparison, which can yield valuable insights across multiple contexts. They argue that comparing diverse cases, informed by the lived experiences and emotions of researchers and subjects, can lead to more nuanced understandings of social phenomena. This approach promotes a blend of rigor and flexibility, helping to justify the legitimacy of interpretive methods in the field of comparative politics.
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