the greek research infrastructure
for social sciences
Comparative research is a form of social science research that aims to make comparisons in representations that result from two or more social formations. As for the "temporal" dimension, the researches are divided into temporally localized and timeless, while as for the "spatial" dimension in national / monocultural or transnational / intercultural ones. Comparative research emerges either as timeless (or as intercultural or as timeless-intercultural). To achieve comparative research, data harmonization strategies are followed, such as "post-homogenization", "pre-homogenization at entry", "pre-homogenization at exit" and mixed techniques. The above data harmonization strategies are quite complex processes, where their success or failure is fully reflected in the final product of the research. The final product of the research should be accompanied by appropriate and extensive documentation, so that the user can understand all the processes that occurred before the final product reaches his hands. In particular, to document comparative research, a metadata model is required capable of including all stages of data harmonization as well as an appropriate tool to support the metadata model and facilitate the documentation process.
