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The Strategy of Paired Comparison: Toward a Theory of Practice

Tarrow, Sidney·2010·Comparative Political Studies
DOI 10.1177/0010414009350044
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Abstract

Paired comparison is a strategy of political analysis that has been widely used but seldom theorized. This is because it is often assimilated to single-case studies or regarded as a degenerate form of multicase analysis. This article argues that paired comparison is a distinct strategy of comparative analysis with advantages that both single-case and multicase comparisons lack. After reviewing how paired comparison has been dealt with in comparative politics, the article details a number of its advantages and pitfalls, illustrates them through the work of four major pairing comparativists, and proposes what is distinct about the strategy. It closes with a number of suggestions for using paired comparison more effectively.

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Metadata

Authors
Tarrow, S.
Affiliations
Cornell University (US)
Corresponding author
Tarrow, Sidney
ORCID
Tarrow, Sidney
Venue
Comparative Political Studies
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2010-01-05
Volume
43
Issue
2
Pages
230-259
ISSN
  • 0010-4140 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-3829
DOI
10.1177/0010414009350044
OpenAlex
W2087100891
Cited by
597
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 33 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 65 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 46 · 2021: 83 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 55 · 2018: 41 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 38 · 2013: 25 · 2012: 16
FWCI
66.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
Comparative Political Studies (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • American Political Science Association
  • Princeton University
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Science Research and Education
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Political Conflict and Governance
Keywords
pairwise comparison, comparative political analysis, single case study, practice theory, comparative analysis

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