Comparison in the social sciences

Methodological options from a study on gender and justice in Brazil and Canada

Abstract

This article discusses the methodological options of comparative research, using as a guiding thread the experience of a study on the application of a gender perspective in the justice systems of Brazil and Canada. It argues that the evolution of the comparative method, from the classical formulations of Mill and Durkheim to contemporary approaches, offers a robust toolkit for analyzing social phenomena that span different national contexts. The article explores the role of generalization and causality in comparative research and demonstrates, through concrete examples, how methodological choices impact the validity and depth of causal inferences. It concludes that comparative research requires the researcher to take a conscious stance regarding the tensions between generalization and historical specificity, between explanatory parsimony and causal complexity, and that the integration of different methodological strategies can significantly expand the explanatory capacity of sociological investigation.