TY - JOUR

T1 - States of Comparability

T2 - A Meta-Study of Representative Population Surveys and Studies on Cultural Consumption

AU - Kirchberg, Volker

AU - Kuchar, Robin

PY - 2014/4

Y1 - 2014/4

N2 - This article discusses similarities and differences found among representative national surveys and studies of cultural attendance. In this meta-study, 16 surveys from 12 countries are subjected to a comparative analysis regarding their content, methodology and theoretical orientation. The investigation is based, not on the results of the individual studies, but on such aspects as their structure and divergences in content, their differences in methodological approach, and their principle theoretical backgrounds. The goals of this meta-study are to evaluate the comparability of the studies and their results in an international framework and to identify best practice examples for high-quality analyses. The results of this meta-study show that, in the field of audience research, there are certainly studies that meet scientific standards. However, in general and especially concerning the comparability of such analyses, research in this field faces a number of problems that restrict detailed juxtaposition.

AB - This article discusses similarities and differences found among representative national surveys and studies of cultural attendance. In this meta-study, 16 surveys from 12 countries are subjected to a comparative analysis regarding their content, methodology and theoretical orientation. The investigation is based, not on the results of the individual studies, but on such aspects as their structure and divergences in content, their differences in methodological approach, and their principle theoretical backgrounds. The goals of this meta-study are to evaluate the comparability of the studies and their results in an international framework and to identify best practice examples for high-quality analyses. The results of this meta-study show that, in the field of audience research, there are certainly studies that meet scientific standards. However, in general and especially concerning the comparability of such analyses, research in this field faces a number of problems that restrict detailed juxtaposition.

KW - Cultural Distribution/Cultural Organization

KW - Cross-national comparison

KW - Cultural consumption

KW - Homology & individualism theses

KW - Meta-study

KW - Methodological limitations

KW - Scientific standards

KW - Sociology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84899659545&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.poetic.2014.01.005

DO - 10.1016/j.poetic.2014.01.005

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 43

SP - 172

EP - 191

JO - Poetics

JF - Poetics

SN - 0304-422X

IS - 1

ER -