Toward Improved Use of Regression in Macro-Comparative Analysis

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Comparative Social Research

ISSN: 0195-6310
Series editor(s): Dr Fredrik Engelstad

Subject Area: Sociology and Public Policy

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Document Information:
Title:	Toward Improved Use of Regression in Macro-Comparative Analysis
Author(s):	Lane Kenworthy
Volume:	24 Editor(s): Lars Mjøset, Tommy H. Clausen ISBN: 978-0-7623-1313-6 eISBN: 978-1-84950-414-0
Citation:	Lane Kenworthy (2007), Toward Improved Use of Regression in Macro-Comparative Analysis, in Lars Mjøset, Tommy H. Clausen (ed.) Capitalisms Compared (Comparative Social Research, Volume 24), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.343-350
DOI:	10.1016/S0195-6310(06)24010-9 (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Article type:	Chapter Item
Extract:	Shalev's third suggested path for progress consists of using tables, graphs, and tree diagrams to examine causal hierarchy and complexity and to identify cases meriting more in-depth scrutiny. This should be viewed not as (or at least not solely as) a substitute for regression but rather as a critical component of regression analysis. All of us were (I hope) taught in our first regression course that it is not enough to simply get the data, estimate some regression equations, and then draw conclusions. It also is necessary to get a feel for the data, in large part by examining descriptive statistics and looking at bivariate and/or multivariate patterns. Too many macro-comparativists, I suspect, either do not do this at all or do not do it sufficiently carefully.