Session 45: Comparative research
| Convenor | Jackie Scott, University of Cambridge |
| Title | Cross-national comparisons of the structure of daily life |
| Abstract | The Multinational Time Use Study includes more than 20 countries, and covers in excess of 40 years of historical change. It has been put together (almost) exclusively through ex post harmonisation of surveys collected for other purposes. How well can this work? |
| J Gershuny (Oxford) | |
| Title | Comparative Methods in Research on Gender |
| Abstract | This presentation will discuss ways in which comparative methods have been used in social science research to identify and interpret similarities and differences across countries and over time. Focusing on comparative research on gendered experiences and outcomes, we will show the potential benefits of making comparisons. We will also highlight some of the more important challenges facing researchers who wish to conduct meaningful comparative studies. For example, the need for similar measures often means that researchers have to use crude indicators and sacrifice important substantive information. Moreover, it can be difficult to justify causal interpretations when the analyses rely on static measures and historical contexts are ignored. |
| Wendy Sigle-Rushton (LSE) | |
| Title | Using microsimulation to understand the effects of social and fiscal policies in cross-national context |
| Abstract | The multi-country tax-benefit microsimulation model, EUROMOD, is a unique facility that allows the effects of policies on incomes across the EU Member States to be measured in a wide variety of ways. For example, it permits the accurate assessment of tax liabilities (often missing from continental survey data). More generally it can improve comparability across countries and provide information related to individual opportunities and incentives, as well as current status. How does it do this and what are the challenges? |
| Holly Sutherland (Essex) | |
| Title | Using egalitarian items to measure gender role equality: a cross national experiment |
| Description | In population surveys, gender ideology is usually measured by items which have a traditional slant. They can be rejected but do not offer the opportunity to explicitly express an egalitarian view. Egalitarian items, however, might lead to an insufficient discrimination between traditional and non-traditional respondents. It is argued that while the former often ignore the egalitarian stance, the latter hold different egalitarian positions (gender equality, facilitation of labor force participation for both genders, individuality) which might prevent agreement with a specific item. Empirical evidence is reported from a cross national experiment in which both traditional and egalitarian items were included and from a cognitive study in Germany in which the selection of a response category was analyzed by using probing questions. |
| Michael Braun (ZUMA, Mannheim) | |
| Discussant | Charles Ragin, University of Arizona |
Available downloadsUsing microsimulation to understand the effects of social and fiscal policies in cross-national contextby Holly Sutherland Crossnational comparisons of the Structure of Daily Life by Jonathan Gershuny Using egalitarian items to measure gender role equality by michael braun Comparative Methods in Research on Gender by Wendy Sigle-Rushton |