Theoretical and methodological problems of international comparative research in sociology

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to develop a framework useful for a systematic discussion of the theoretical and methodological problems in international comparative research. In the author's opinion, such a framework may primarily serve as an instrument to a) classify the main types of international comparative research and to b) make an inventory of the main theoretical, methodological and practical problems in this field. The author first comments on two classifications of comparative research that were developed by Scheuch and Smelser and next he presents a more comprehensive framework that is more appropriate to the situation of theoretical and methodological pluralism in the social sciences. The classification proposed by the author is made by looking at the main theoretical perspectives or paradigms which are based on fundamental differences regarding the subject-matter of sociology. The author opposes catascopic and anascopic approaches, the approaches conceiving the reality as „objective" or „intersubjective", consensus and conflict approaches, synchronic and diacronie approaches, and continuous and discontinuous changes approaches. In addition, the author distinguishes other differences, e.g. cultural level and social-structural level approaches and draws conclusions concerning, among other, the goal of international comparative research.Digitalizacja i deponowanie archiwalnych zeszytów RPEiS sfinansowane przez MNiSW w ramach realizacji umowy nr 541/P-DUN/201