Methodological pluralism in international comparative research

This article explores the costs and benefits of combining and integrating different research methods both within and across paradigms in international comparative research. It reviews the reasons for the supposed incompatibility between different epistemologies and associated methodologies. Drawing on examples from international projects, it examines the various ways in which methodological pluralism can be exploited to extend the scope of comparative studies. Although combined methods may not be a panacea in international comparative research, the author suggests that they can provide a fruitful approach for researchers seeking to capture more fully the complexity of the objects under study.