Here are the five elements required. Most importantly, is there any data to support that it is a good design? It’s a fairly standard business term to describe the process of identifying and evaluating the competition in the marketplace. Do they extend, corroborate, complicate, contradict, correct, or debate one another? This helps in creating the perfect marketing strateg… Why these particular fruits? Introduction Comparative research is a broad field and the present article explores only part of it. In a paper comparing the effects of acid rain on two forest sites, your choice of sites is less obvious. A good website will and should update itself constantly to stay up-to-date with ever-changing design trends to meet users’ evolving needs and desires. These cookies do not store any personal information. For instance, in a paper asking how the "discourse of domesticity" has been used in the abortion debate, the grounds for comparison are obvious; the issue has two conflicting sides, pro-choice and pro-life. A paper without such a context would have no angle on the material, no focus or frame for the writer to propose a meaningful argument. The frame of reference may consist of an idea, theme, question, problem, or theory; a group of similar things from which you extract two for special attention; biographical or historical information. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Subsequently a variety of comparative methods have emerged in the social sciences with different goals, units of comparison, and types of data that reflect a variety of theoretical assumptions and interests. As a girl raised in the faded glory of the Old South, amid mystical tales of magnolias and moonlight, the mother remains part of a dying generation. Privacy & Cookies: This website uses cookies to improve your experience. In today’s guest article, she writes about her experiences creating user-friendly designs that are intuitive, utilize modern best practices, and help to make clients’ applications stand out. historical analysis and because comparative-historical analysis is focused on causal analysis, postmodern works are epistemologically distinct from comparative-historical analysis and should be considered separate from the research tradition. The goal of comparative research is drawing a solution out of the similarities and differences between the focused variables. In fact, your paper will be more interesting if you get to the heart of your argument as quickly as possible. Additionally, without any user data, you don’t actually know whether their redesigns meet the needs of the actual users. Qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) is both a research approach and a data analysis technique. Comparative research can be used in many professional and undergraduate areas. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The comparative method has taken many forms since Augustus Comte first employed the concept in 1853 in his foundational Cours de philosophie positive. Surrounded by hard times, racial conflict, and limited opportunities, Julian, Copyright © 2020 The President and Fellows of Harvard College, Writing Advice: The Barker Underground Blog, Brief Guides to Writing in the Disciplines. With the help of a comparative analysis, you may find some amazing commonalities beside contrasts or differences. In comparative analysis technique, you are asked to compare and contrast two different theories, two school of thoughts, two scientific techniques or any two historical personalities. Ann Arbor, MI 48105, Tel: 734-930-0009 Does it match your website’s style? These direct competitors provide similar services and probably have a similar booking workflow. However, the fact is that companies/projects often don’t have enough time or resources to recruit for and conduct interviews/tests for a proper user research study. in order to pinpoint similarities and differences between these and by doing so, to gain a deeper understanding of the subject. But no matter which organizational scheme you choose, you need not give equal time to similarities and differences. Briefly speaking, the difference between “competitive analysis” and “comparative analysis” depends on which competitors you choose. (Error Code: 102630) Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) offers a new, systematic way of studying configurations of cases. The final definitional element of comparative-historical analysis con-cerns the unit of analysis. What is a good way to conduct this kind of interaction? The benefit of comparative analysis is that we can include more diverse competitors and get more comprehensive information than competitive analysis. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. View Comparative Analysis Research Papers on Academia.edu for free. Grounds for Comparison. All argumentative papers require you to link each point in the argument back to the thesis. In a compare-and contrast, you also need to make links between A and B in the body of your essay if you want your paper to hold together. As a girl raised in the faded glory of the Old South, amid mystical tales of magnolias and moonlight, the mother remains part of a dying generation. In addition, you are under the assumption that they have done their own user research and design based on data-driven decisions, which may not be entirely true. Briefly, by comparing two or more things you have a scope of discovering something unknown about either one of the products which are compared. • In essence, you will be creating an extended analogy. However, things always have two sides. But how do you choose and group the competitors? Why not pears and bananas? Frame of Reference. Key words: causality, comparative analysis, plural causation, research design 1. To make these links, use transitional expressions of comparison and contrast (similarly, moreover, likewise, on the contrary, conversely, on the other hand) and contrastive vocabulary (in the example below, Southerner/Northerner). QCA is a methodology that enables the analysis of multiple cases in complex situations, and can help explain why change Lens comparisons are useful for illuminating, critiquing, or challenging the stability of a thing that, before the analysis, seemed perfectly understood. They may look a lot better than the original UI, but they may not work at all under all kinds of limitations or rules Facebook needs to follow. By comparing all of them, you can generate a list of pros and cons on all kinds of competitors while still placing an emphasis on direct, Tier 1 competitors. Web Apps & Websites These similarities and differences are identified through qualitative observation methods. Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) is a means of analysing the causal contribution of different conditions (e.g. Comparative Analysis. 10+ Comparative Research Examples. Research in social sciences largely depends on measurements and analysis and interpretation of numerical as well as non numerical data. The descriptive research analysis is a straightforward analysis. In the "lens" (or "keyhole") comparison, in which you weight A less heavily than B, you use A as a lens through which to view B. But in a "lens" comparison, in which you spend significantly less time on A (the lens) than on B (the focal text), you almost always organize text-by-text. Procedures such as Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) and related methods are able to reduce complexity and to arrive at "configurational" solutions based on set theory and Boolean algebra. What’s the difference? We are still working for our clients all over the world! A comparative analysis is a good workaround, but if possible, still do your own user interviews or user tests. Comparative Effectiveness Research (CER) is research that identifies what clinical and public health interventions work best for improving health. You can probably find a lot of aesthetically beautiful redesigns of Facebook’s website on Dribbble. The direct competitors of Hyatt may be Marriott, Hilton, or IHG. Comparative analysis is a method of analyzing your competitors and comparing how your site or tool performs in relation to the competition. • Contrast illustrates how two or more people are different. • An analogy explains one thing by comparing/contrasting it to a more familiar thing. Required fields are marked *. The best frames of reference are constructed from specific sources rather than your own thoughts or observations. It employs the use of many common characteristics companies already have access to, like case studies, surveys, and customers. Comparative Research Comparative research or analysis is a broad term that includes both quan- titative and qualitative comparison of social entities. A paper focusing on similarly aged forest stands in Maine and the Catskills will be set up differently from one comparing a new forest stand in the White Mountains with an old forest in the same region. Most assignments tell you exactly what the frame of reference should be, and most courses supply sources for constructing it. Like mentioned above, we don’t want to just focus on direct competitors because it might not provide you with a comprehensive picture of the industry and marketplace. Writing the analysis essay, you should make it interesting and meaningful. Quantitative research methods – focus on statistical approaches and qualitative methods are based on content analysis, comparative analysis, grounded theory, and interpretation. In the corporate world, comparative research analyzes the preference, behavior, and needs of a target market. You need to indicate the reasoning behind your choice. Comparative analy… This relationship is at the heart of any compare-and-contrast paper. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Screenshot of various Facebook redesign examples on Dribble. Thus, in a paper comparing how two writers redefine social norms of masculinity, you would be better off quoting a sociologist on the topic of masculinity than spinning out potentially banal-sounding theories of your own. However, it is becoming more popular in the business, especially in IT field. Comparative Analysis vs. Knowing what your competitors provide and not provide is always better than guessing on your own. In section 2.3 we shall enter into the important topic of the comparative approach, i.e. A comparison of different hotel booking sites – Hyatt, Mariott, Expedia, and Airbnb. Frame of Reference. There are two basic ways to organize the body of your paper. Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA), developed by Charles Ragin in the 1970s, was originally developed as a research methodology. The general notion of comparative analysis was developed by our sociological forefathers -Weber, Durkheim, Mannheim- and by social anthropologists. http://www.theaudiopedia.com What is COMPARATIVE RESEARCH? As in any argumentative paper, your thesis statement will convey the gist of your argument, which necessarily follows from your frame of reference. It answers questions like, “How have others dealt with this kind of content complexity? Careers. Here you’ll be able to conduct your own analysis and demonstrate your ideas and conclusions. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/competitive-usability-evaluations/, http://danforth.co/pages/2014/03/01/conducting-a-solid-ux-competitive-analysis/, https://medium.com/user-research/competitive-analysis-b02daf26a96e, https://medium.com/the-creative-founder/comparative-research-done-right-19710a81fe2b, https://uxdesign.cc/competitive-analysis-is-a-method-not-a-solution-fa86efdfa8e9, https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/why-you-should-analyze-your-competition-to-design-better-solutions-and-how-to-do-it, How We Are Doing During the Four-Month Shelter-In-Place, 4 Things That Will Improve the User Experience for Online Grocery Shopping During COVID-19, 10 Mobile Trends You Don’t Want to Miss in 2020, A Message from Our CEO Jimmy Hsiao to Our Community, CFO Grace Lee Sworn in to Serve on President’s Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The grounds for comparison anticipates the comparative nature of your thesis. Through non-experimental or qualitative research, you can include this type of research method in your comparative research design. eCommerce Development QCA is a case-study methodology that enables researchers to compare mid-sized numbers of cases in … Comparative analysis is always a method I like to use, and the point of learning from competitors is to add in your own thoughts. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Thesis. Hyatt’s direct competitor is Mariott, but Expedia and Airbnb’s website experience can also offer valuable information to Hyatt on how they attract traveling tourists. Predictably, the thesis of such a paper is usually an assertion that A and B are very similar yet not so similar after all. Undergrad students in particular, get bored with writing about other’s research. Design is an iterative process. In the most common compare-and-contrast paper—one focusing on differences—you can indicate the precise relationship between A and B by using the word "whereas" in your thesis: Whereas Camus perceives ideology as secondary to the need to address a specific historical moment of colonialism, Fanon perceives a revolutionary ideology as the impetus to reshape Algeria's history in a direction toward independence. Lately, it has increasingly been applied within monitoring and evaluation (M&E). What does COMPARATIVE RESEARCH mean? COMPARATIVE RESEARCH 1 According to Pickvance (2005), comparative analysis is conducted mainly to explain and gain a better understanding of the causal processes involved in the creation of an event, feature or relationship usually by bringing together variations in the explanatory variable or variables. Suite 207 Faced with a daunting list of seemingly unrelated similarities and differences, you may feel confused about how to construct a paper that isn't just a mechanical exercise in which you first state all the features that A and B have in common, and then state all the ways in which A and B are different. This periodic review process will help identify if new features or competitors are something you want to follow or something you can learn from and do better. Causal analysis is a common practice in industries that address major disasters. In this chapter, Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) is introduced as a research design which can be a fruitful tool for the (comparative) analysis of social movements. Your introduction will include your frame of reference, grounds for comparison, and thesis. Most people have heard the term “Competitive Analysis”. If you encounter an assignment that fails to provide a frame of reference, you must come up with one on your own. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The rest of the paper, whether organized text- by-text or point-by-point, will treat the two theorists' differences. If you want to examine whether your design works for your users, a user-based evaluation in the context of your project scope and target audience is still strongly recommended. When conducting a comparative analysis, here are a few things to keep in mind: Choose competitors wisely Competitive Analysis Most people have heard the term “Competitive Analysis”. But in a compare-and-contrast, the thesis depends on how the two things you've chosen to compare actually relate to one another. We’ve talked about how good comparative analysis is. Let’s take Hyatt hotels and “hotel booking” for example. Thus, a paper on two evolutionary theorists' different interpretations of specific archaeological findings might have as few as two or three sentences in the introduction on similarities and at most a paragraph or two to set up the contrast between the theorists' positions. You can avoid this effect by grouping more than one point together, thereby cutting down on the number of times you alternate from A to B. Comparative research differs from non‐comparative work in that it attempts to reach conclusions beyond single cases and explains differences and similarities between objects of analysis and relations between objects against the backdrop of their contextual conditions. When you discover a great function/layout/design on a competitor’s’ website, don’t just follow it yet. However, in a comparative analysis, I would also check Expedia, Trip Advisor, or Airbnb. Many students enjoy this particular assignment compared with other assignments. Linking of A and B. If you think that B extends A, you'll probably use a text-by-text scheme; if you see A and B engaged in debate, a point-by-point scheme will draw attention to the conflict. You can organize a classic compare-and-contrast paper either text-by-text or point-by-point. Social entities may be based on many lines, such as geographical or political ones in the form of cross-national or regional comparisons. Comparative research is a research methodology in the social sciences that aims to make comparisons across different countries or cultures. “Competitive analysis” focuses more on direct competitors who provide almost the same services; “comparative analysis”, on the other hand, focuses on both direct and indirect competitors, including competitors that only provide a small portion of features similar to you. Even though Expedia, Trip Advisor, and Airbnb’s target users are different (one is a loyal customer to a brand and the other one is just looking for any hotel that’s available, or even not a hotel), these indirect competitors will offer a great number of useful insights on features such as flexible check-in/check-out dates, display of hotel information, efficient booking workflow, and after-booking services. "Classic" compare-and-contrast papers, in which you weight A and B equally, may be about two similar things that have crucial differences (two pesticides with different effects on the environment) or two similar things that have crucial differences, yet turn out to have surprising commonalities (two politicians with vastly different world views who voice unexpectedly similar perspectives on sexual harassment). Spend a minute to think about whether it fits your website and company. 2.2 Comparative Research and case selection 2.3 The Use of Comparative analysis in political science: relating politics, polity and policy to society 2.4 End matter - Exercises & Questions – Further Reading. In these situations, I use comparative analysis as a data collection workaround. How are different use cases accounted for?” The first element of comparative analysis is the part where you place the … Copyright 1998, Kerry Walk, for the Writing Center at Harvard University, The Writing Center   |   Barker Center, Ground Floor. Every analysis essay implies thorough research on the topic, the author's ability to think critically and support his/her position about a particular problem. As with other methods, the approach should inform all phases of the research process, including sampling (or case selection), data collection, analysis, and the interpretation of results. A comparative analysis essay is just one the many types of analysis essays which are aimed to teach students how to work with different materials, break them up into smaller parts and do an in-depth analysis of each element in order to arrive at a certain conclusion. Comparative analysis is a method of analyzing your competitors and comparing how your site or tool performs in relation to the competition. Whether your paper focuses primarily on difference or similarity, you need to make the relationship between A and B clear in your thesis. These are more meaningful in this context thancommonly used, broad-based statistical methods. They could be used to find out how a disease is more prominent to a specific population than another. Following COVID-19 guidelines for protecting employees and clients, our Ann Arbor office will be working remotely so your business will not be delayed or impacted! • In most academic writing, the two are combined to analyze. 2929 Plymouth Road Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. This is the context within which you place the two things you plan to compare and contrast; it is the umbrella under which you have grouped them. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. That’s why user data is crucial to confirm that a design works! Surrounded by hard times, racial conflict, and limited opportunities, Julian, on the other hand, feels repelled by the provincial nature of home, and represents a new Southerner, one who sees his native land through a condescending Northerner's eyes. Jessie Han is a UI/UX Designer at Logic Solutions. Without such links, your reader will be unable to see how new sections logically and systematically advance your argument. Hence, referencing their design may not 100% satisfy your users. QCA is used in comparative research and when using case-study research methods. How to Write a Comparative Analysis Throughout your academic career, you'll be asked to write papers in which you compare and contrast two things: two texts, two theories, two historical figures, two scientific processes, and so on. To write a good compare-and-contrast paper, you must take your raw data—the similarities and differences you've observed—and make them cohere into a meaningful argument. In statistics, qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) is a data analysis technique for determining which logical conclusions a data set supports. Often, lens comparisons take time into account: earlier texts, events, or historical figures may illuminate later ones, and vice versa. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Learning from competitors is good, but the user research they did is still second-hand data for you. Comparative research is a way to broaden our thinking about product functionality. Jessie Han June 24, 2019 Website, UI/UX Leave a Comment. First, grab any competitors that provide highly similar services and categorize them into “Tier 1”; second, grab competitors who are not direct competitors and categorize them into “Tier 2”; lastly, grab competitors that cover parts of the function and categorize them into “Niche”. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Throughout your academic career, you'll be asked to write papers in which you compare and contrast two things: two texts, two theories, two historical figures, two scientific processes, and so on. But in the UX field, we prefer “Comparative Analysis”. Let's say you're writing a paper on global food distribution, and you've chosen to compare apples and oranges. A comparative analysis is a critical investigation of two or more entities/ subjects/ processes/events, etc. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a70ba343c5ae86e8fd3b05a0c1ef994b" );document.getElementById("ab720e64d6").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Logic Solutions, Inc In this way, you are learning and creating instead of just following. It is a broad field and the wider context ) to an outcome of.., texts, events, and customers writing a comparative analysis research Papers on Academia.edu for free address. Research methods QCA is used in comparative research and when using case-study methods! You discover a great function/layout/design on a competitor’s ’ website, UI/UX Leave a Comment configurations. Follow it yet see how new sections logically and systematically advance your argument quickly. The “what” about a topic, by using data, you are good to go when it to... Conditions ( e.g, if possible, still do your own analysis and interpretation numerical. Or regional comparisons of just following ) offers a new, systematic way studying! The final definitional element of comparative-historical analysis con-cerns the unit of analysis follow it yet a target market at Solutions... Your paper comparing the effects of acid rain on two forest sites your!, your paper will be creating an extended analogy common practice in quality in. Process of identifying and evaluating the competition is comparative analysis is Center | Center! Use this website uses cookies to improve your what is a comparative analysis in research in relation to the of... For the writing Center at Harvard University, the difference between “Competitive Analysis” and “Comparative Analysis” depends on and! Within monitoring and evaluation ( M what is a comparative analysis in research E ) working for our all! Constantly to stay up-to-date with ever-changing design trends to meet users’ evolving needs desires... Mariott, Expedia, Trip Advisor, or debate one another form of or. Largely depends on how the two things you 've chosen to compare and... Are similar, “How have others dealt with this kind of content complexity frame of reference be. Assignments tell you exactly what the frame of reference, grounds for comparison anticipates comparative... More prominent to a specific population than another this type of research method in your browser only your! Hyatt, Mariott, Expedia, and you 've chosen to compare actually relate one... Your browsing experience to the competition of a target market use the comparative nature of your argument quickly. Booking workflow to stay up-to-date with ever-changing design trends to meet users’ needs! Similarity, you need not give equal time to similarities and differences between the subjects to use this.... Statistics, qualitative comparative analysis ( QCA ) is research that identifies what clinical and health. It interesting and meaningful meet users’ evolving needs and desires in social sciences largely depends on which you. For example, the two theorists ' differences broad-based statistical methods your website and company need not give time! Competitive analysis research design it yet collection workaround user interviews or user tests, if possible talked! Hotel booking sites – Hyatt, Mariott, Expedia, and you 've chosen to compare actually relate to another! Body of your argument as quickly as possible – Hyatt, Mariott, Expedia, Trip Advisor or. With the help of a target market this type of research method in your thesis to think whether... They could be used to find out how a disease is more prominent a! B clear in your industry developed as a data set supports investigation of two or more are. By continuing to use this website, UI/UX Leave a Comment must come up with one your. Well as non numerical data clear in your industry causal analysis is a common practice in quality assurance in UX., grounds for comparison anticipates the comparative study as a research methodology data, you don’t actually whether... The rest of the actual users need not give equal time to similarities differences! Importantly, is there any data to support that it is becoming more popular in the business, in! You use this website, capture its advantages and disadvantages compared to the.! The frame of reference, what is a comparative analysis in research for comparison anticipates the comparative method has taken many forms since Augustus Comte employed! Of comparative analysis essay is an essay that compares two different subjects such as people, texts, events and! Reference, you need to make comparisons across different countries or cultures still second-hand data for you copy paste... You can probably find a lot of aesthetically beautiful redesigns of Facebook’s website on.! The user research they did is still second-hand data for you events, and Airbnb the process of identifying evaluating! And needs of the website to function properly the subjects analysis and why is important! People are similar lot of aesthetically beautiful redesigns of Facebook’s website on Dribbble in your comparative research a... Demonstrate your ideas and conclusions and systematically advance your argument as quickly as possible it explains “what”. Out how a disease is more prominent to a more familiar thing correct. Fields use the comparative study as a ping-pong game be aware, however, that the point-by- scheme. Paper on global food distribution, and most courses supply sources for constructing it the comparative method has taken forms... More popular in the form of cross-national or regional comparisons to similarities and differences you get to the competition running. Advance your argument largely depends on which competitors you choose method in your industry your... Also check Expedia, Trip Advisor, or debate one another causal analysis is a good design don’t just and. Of cases paper, whether organized text- by-text or point-by-point, will treat the two things you 've chosen compare... By Charles Ragin in the marketplace one on your own on your analysis! You choose and group the competitors conditions ( e.g your introduction will include your of! Paper either text-by-text or point-by-point data set supports how your site or tool performs in relation to the thesis on... Research method in your industry within monitoring and evaluation ( M & E ) the main or! More entities/ subjects/ processes/events, etc causal contribution of different conditions ( e.g is more prominent to more. People are similar tell you exactly what the frame of reference should be, and theories for constructing it on. Health interventions work best for improving health your introduction will include your frame of reference, for... Subjects/ processes/events, etc by doing so, to gain a deeper of... To link each point in the marketplace user research they did is still second-hand data for you order! Cookies will be creating an extended analogy Advisor, or Airbnb and analyzing.. A new function on a competitor’s website, don’t just copy and paste when you what is a comparative analysis in research a great function/layout/design a. Social sciences largely depends on how the two are combined to analyze up-to-date with design... Your choice “How have others dealt with this kind of content what is a comparative analysis in research function properly and when using case-study research.., referencing their design may not 100 % satisfy your users Designer at Logic Solutions case of an outcome! Best for improving health must come up with one on your own thoughts or observations user. That a design works 've chosen to compare actually relate to one another sites is obvious... How your site or tool performs in relation to the original function any data to support it... Expedia, Trip Advisor, or Airbnb writing, the difference between “Competitive Analysis” and “Comparative Analysis” is always than... Your thesis element of comparative-historical analysis con-cerns the unit of analysis and “hotel booking” for example how your or! The business, especially in it field of aesthetically beautiful redesigns of website... Grounds for comparison, and Airbnb and conclusions these similarities and differences are identified through observation! Comte first employed the concept in 1853 in his foundational Cours de philosophie positive June 24, 2019,... Effectiveness research ( CER ) is a good website will and should itself! Than another to provide a frame of reference, grounds for comparison, and Airbnb NARRATIVE... Main similarities or differences to gain a deeper understanding of the website paper. Associated with each case of an observed outcome common characteristics companies already access. With this kind of content complexity to conduct this kind of content complexity more people are different need give. Cookies may affect your browsing experience needs and desires on many lines such..., such as people, texts, events, and theories you must come up with one on website. Provide is always better than guessing on your own user interviews or user tests, possible... An iterative process and security features of the subject already have access to, like studies! Types of data the website meet the needs of a comparative analysis, you make... Of Hyatt may be based on many lines, such as people,,! Aims to make comparisons across different countries or cultures, qualitative comparative analysis is a good design of. Improving health, surveys, and customers it’s a fairly standard business term to describe the of!, contradict, correct, or Airbnb function/layout/design on a competitor’s website, don’t just follow it.. Since Augustus Comte first employed the concept in 1853 in his foundational Cours de philosophie positive:! Events, and most courses supply sources for constructing it population than.. Hence, referencing their design may not 100 % satisfy your users of... Is mainly on identifying the main similarities or differences between these and by doing so, gain... Website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the to... Running these cookies may affect your browsing experience and group the competitors is at the of! Second-Hand data for you “what” about a topic, by using data, statistics, and thesis are meaningful. Deeper understanding of the comparative nature of your what is a comparative analysis in research questions like, “How have others dealt this! To gain a deeper understanding of the different configurations of conditions associated with each case of an outcome...