A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Viewpoint: Dealing with trade-offs in comparative urban studies
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0820-5281
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8492-9161
Abstract Comparative urban studies (CUS) are a widespread applied research approach across various disciplines. The increasing importance that has recently been given to this research method goes hand in hand with the lack of attention paid to various methodological trade-offs surrounding CUS. These trade-offs are a result of the two contrasting poles that CUS tries to pay attention to: the universal one that applies to all cities and the specific one that applies to one city at a defined time and location. This viewpoint seeks to uncover these trade-offs, discuss strategies about how to deal with them and explore the corresponding consequences in order to support approaches to a) critically reflect on the consequences of methodological decisions; and b) incorporate procedures which might help to resolve some of these difficulties and limitations. The arguments presented here help to sensitise researchers in their applied and theoretical work for the potential opportunities of CUS. We hope to foster the debate about CUS and contribute to the development of robust and methodically precise CUS which balance the intricate coalition between theoretical concepts and the empirical reality.
Highlights Comparative urban studies bring about three trade-offs: the analysis, synthesis and description trade-off. Different strategies can be applied – linking these is promising for creating new knowledge. Robust concepts which are needed which the same time understand cities as both territorial and relational. Contrasting comparisons are increasingly needed for uncovering processes and their relations beyond law-like explanations.
Viewpoint: Dealing with trade-offs in comparative urban studies
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0820-5281
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8492-9161
Abstract Comparative urban studies (CUS) are a widespread applied research approach across various disciplines. The increasing importance that has recently been given to this research method goes hand in hand with the lack of attention paid to various methodological trade-offs surrounding CUS. These trade-offs are a result of the two contrasting poles that CUS tries to pay attention to: the universal one that applies to all cities and the specific one that applies to one city at a defined time and location. This viewpoint seeks to uncover these trade-offs, discuss strategies about how to deal with them and explore the corresponding consequences in order to support approaches to a) critically reflect on the consequences of methodological decisions; and b) incorporate procedures which might help to resolve some of these difficulties and limitations. The arguments presented here help to sensitise researchers in their applied and theoretical work for the potential opportunities of CUS. We hope to foster the debate about CUS and contribute to the development of robust and methodically precise CUS which balance the intricate coalition between theoretical concepts and the empirical reality.
Highlights Comparative urban studies bring about three trade-offs: the analysis, synthesis and description trade-off. Different strategies can be applied – linking these is promising for creating new knowledge. Robust concepts which are needed which the same time understand cities as both territorial and relational. Contrasting comparisons are increasingly needed for uncovering processes and their relations beyond law-like explanations.
Viewpoint: Dealing with trade-offs in comparative urban studies
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0820-5281
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8492-9161
Abstract Comparative urban studies (CUS) are a widespread applied research approach across various disciplines. The increasing importance that has recently been given to this research method goes hand in hand with the lack of attention paid to various methodological trade-offs surrounding CUS. These trade-offs are a result of the two contrasting poles that CUS tries to pay attention to: the universal one that applies to all cities and the specific one that applies to one city at a defined time and location. This viewpoint seeks to uncover these trade-offs, discuss strategies about how to deal with them and explore the corresponding consequences in order to support approaches to a) critically reflect on the consequences of methodological decisions; and b) incorporate procedures which might help to resolve some of these difficulties and limitations. The arguments presented here help to sensitise researchers in their applied and theoretical work for the potential opportunities of CUS. We hope to foster the debate about CUS and contribute to the development of robust and methodically precise CUS which balance the intricate coalition between theoretical concepts and the empirical reality.
Highlights Comparative urban studies bring about three trade-offs: the analysis, synthesis and description trade-off. Different strategies can be applied – linking these is promising for creating new knowledge. Robust concepts which are needed which the same time understand cities as both territorial and relational. Contrasting comparisons are increasingly needed for uncovering processes and their relations beyond law-like explanations.
Viewpoint: Dealing with trade-offs in comparative urban studies
Wolff, Manuel (author) / Haase, Annegret (author)
Cities ; 96
2019-07-22
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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