Methodology in Comparative Studies: An Overview.

Overview & Synopsis

Methodological developments in comparative education have influenced those in comparative physical education and sport. The history of those developments in comparative education, moreover, are similar to those in the newer field. The overall methodological developments in comparative education have been the following: studies involving history and those designed to demonstrate national character; studies involving philosophical traditions, and these are, in the main, area studies; and comparative studies utilizing the topical approach and more sophisticated research techniques, particularly statistical methodology. With respect to physical education, every consideration should be given to the changing emphases, frameworks, and models in comparative education. Comparative education has proceeded from intuition, description, and analysis to prediction. The historical-philosophical-national character tradition has been superseded, to a large extent, by a movement towards the social sciences. The field of comparative physical education and sport has come a slower route, has attracted less worthy scholars, and is relatively new in the academic world. The descriptive, historical, philosophical routes will always be with us, but ultimately academic acceptance of comparative physical education will depend on a slow but assured movement into the social sciences. (Charts illustrating theoretical models are included.) (SK)