Reading list: International comparative studies and International librarianship
P J Lor
2009-10-18
Cowen, Robert. 2006. Acting comparatively upon the educational world: puzzles and possibilities.
Oxford review of education 32(5):561-573,
Photocopy.
Comparative education needs to deal with the concept of context (local, social embeddedness of
educational phenomena) and transfer (the movement of educational ideas, policies and practices
from one place to another). Banal notions of globalization, a shrinking world, and the demand
for “robust and relevant” research, pose dangers. Makes useful distinction between “transfer”,
“translation” and “transformation”. Distinction between “education overseas” and “comparative
education” is also relevant to International librarianship. Pleads for development of a new filed
of “applied comparative education”. Many refs.
Crossley, Michael. 2002. Comparative and international education: contemporary challenges,
reconceptualization and new directions for the field. Current issues in contemporary education
4(2):81-86.
Photocopy
Contemporary challenges include globalization (and questioning of the prominence of the
nation state in comparative studies); use of qualitative research approaches; increased
sensitivity to culture and context; post-structural, post-modern and post-colonial frameworks;
bridging the gap between educational research and its potential to improve policy and practice;
competition between countries (the “league tables”); ICT challenges. Multi-levels of analysis
can be helpful. The historical dimension is being reclaimed. Many refs.
Danton, J. Periam. 1973. The dimensions of comparative librarianship. Chicago: American Library
Association.
First substantial US publication on comparative librarianship.
Danton, J. Periam. 1977. Definitions of comparative and international library science. In: Comparative
and international library science; ed. John F. Harvey. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, pp.3-14.
Scanned copy in folder.PHOTOCOPY.
Updates his 1973 critique of definitions of comparative and international librarianship. Outlines
essential elements of comparative librarianship, and observes that writers on the subject have
not taken note of earlier work. Confirms his 1973 definition of comparative librarianship with a
minor amendment. Useful references.
Hantrais, Linda 2009. International comparative research: theory, methods and practice. Basingstoke
(England): Palgrave-Macmillan.
Very recent, multi-disciplinary; slim volume (194p) but comprehensive. Lucid overview of the
field, disciplinary approaches, research design, methodological issues, international settings,
project management. European flavor..
Harvey, J.F. 1973. Towards a definition of international and comparative library science. International
library review 5(1):289-319.
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Hicklington-Hudson, Anne. 2006. Cultural complexity, post-colonialism and educational change:
challenges for comparative educators. Review of education 52:201-218.
Passionate autobiographical account; good refs of post-colonialism; interesting conscientization
strategy for raising student awareness.
Jowell, Roger, Roberts, Caroline, Fitzgerald, Rory & Eva, Gillian 2007. Measuring attitudes crossnationally: lessons from the European Social Survey. London: SAGE Publications.
Kravchuk, Robert S. 2008. Comparative research in public administration: a historical;-institutionalist
perspective. In: Yang, Kaifeng & Miller, Gerald J. (eds) Handbook of research methods in
public administration. 2nd ed. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Lijphart, Arend. 1971. Comparative politics and the comparative method. American political science
review 65(3):682-693.
Mouton, Johan & Marais, H.C. 1990. Basic concepts in the methodology of the social sciences. Rev ed.
Pretoria: Human Sciences research Council.
Raivola, Reijo. 1986. What is comparison? Methodological and philosophical considerations. In:
Altbach, Philip G. and Kelly, Gail P. New approaches to comparative education. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press: 261-273.
GML LA133.N48 1986
Presents an analysis of the concept of comparison, which has been the subject of various
misconceptions. Outlines some problems in the use of comparison in generalization and theory
building, and in cross-cultural comparisons. International comparisons make researchers aware
of possible cultural bias. Sets out five types of relations in theoretical research which rely on the
concepts of equivalence or correspondence: Cultural equivalence (phenomena are observed or
judged in the same way in different cultures); contextual equivalence (the objects of comparison
are part of a higher level of systems that have earlier been defined as equivalents), functional
equivalence (the objects have the same role in the functioning of the system); correlative
equivalence (phenomena correlate empirically in the same way with the criterion variable); and
genetic equivalence (the phenomena under comparison derive from the same source, namely the
same conceptual class, e.g. the classical and Christian tradition in European education). (pp.
265-267). Discusses the question of comparability, i.e. whether it is at all possible to compare
different social or cultural systems and units scientifically, and presents a three part analysis of
the question, (1) Do the concepts under comparison correspond? (relating to the location of the
concepts on a general-specific continuum, the definitions of the concepts, and how easy the
concepts are to identify); (2) how is the correspondence of measurements to be assessed; (3) can
the problem of how concepts are linguistically expressed be resolved? Addresses question on
how to find a body of material suitable for comparison that is independent of the collector and
the interpreter (p. 269) in relation to the formation of concepts and the basic mental operations
of recognition, comparison and classification. Quite abstract & philosophical.
Rust, Val D., Soumaré, Aminata, Pescador, Octavio & Shibuya, Megumi 1999. Research strategies in
comparative education. Comparative education review 43(1): 86-109.
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Sartori, Giovanni 1991. Comparing and miscomparing. Journal of theoretical politics 3(3): 243-257.
Schriewer, Jürgen. 2006. Comparative social science: characteristic problems and changing problem
solutions. Comparative Education 42(3):299-336 (Aug)
The article—which also serves as Editorial—seeks to trace some of the fundamental problems
that the comparative social and cultural sciences have had to cope with since their emergence
and gradual consolidation, in the course of the nineteenth century. To this end, the article adopts
a historical line of analysis, which is meant to throw into relief the very succession of
constitutive problems, alternative problem solutions, resultant follow‐ up problems, and the
corresponding present‐ day debates, as reflected in the articles of this issue. Two lines of
problem developments are highlighted in greater detail. These include, on the one hand, the
issue of how to break down analytically a socio‐ historical information base that may be
expanded to virtually global dimensions so as to yield systematic knowledge, i.e. knowledge
pertinent to theory building and explanation, as is generally expected from the comparative
approach. On the other hand, the analysis focuses on the research‐ framing issue of whether the
units of analysis to be studied—national societies, political systems, legal families, or
religio‐ cultural settings—are to be conceptualized in terms of mutually independent, quasi
autarkic, and to that extent comparable entities, or in terms of intertwined elements of relations
of trans‐ societal, and ultimately world‐ historical, interconnection. [ABSTRACT FROM
AUTHOR]
Hundreds of refs.
Simsova, S. 1982. A primer of comparative librarianship. London: Bingley.
Said to replace Simsova & Mackee (1970), but is actually a dumbed-down "how to do it"
guide, with little conceptual substance as it omits the earlier material on definitions and the
theoretical basis of comparison.
Simsova, S. & MacKee, M. 1970. A handbook of comparative librarianship. London: Bingley.
First English-language monograph on the field. Pragmatic, but attempts to get to grips with
questions of definitions of the field, the comparative mtgod, typs of comparatie studies and
patterns of comparison. Citicized by Danton (1977).
Simsova, S. & MacKee, M. 1975. A handbook of comparative librarianship; 2nd rev. ed. Hamden
(Conn.): Linnet Books; London: Bingley.
New edition of the Simsova & Mackee (1970). Original chapters largely unchanged, but a
massive "Guide to sources" (c.460 p) has been added.
Whatley, H.A. (ed.) 1977. Handbook [of the International and Comparative Librarianship Group of
the Library association]. London: Library Association; Chicago: American library Association.
198p.
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