Learning Objectives

  • Define each of the four basic types of historical and comparative research methods and give an example of each.
  • Explain the process of event-structure analysis.
  • Identify the strengths and limitations of oral history.
  • Contrast the temporal, holistic, and conjunctural features of narrative explanations to those of hypothesis-testing.
  • Discuss the major methodological challenges that arise in comparative and historical research.
  • Describe the process of content analysis and give one example.