Which term refers to the study method that involves looking at similarities and differences across groups or events?

• A. Historical documents
• B. Comparative study
• C. Social interaction
• D. Beliefs

Answer: (D)

The concept here is comparing groups or events to identify patterns, similarities, and differences. This approach, the comparative study, looks at two or more cases—different social groups, places, or time periods—and analyzes how their similarities or differences relate to outcomes or social phenomena. By systematically comparing cases, you can infer how context or conditions shape behaviors or structures, and spot recurring patterns across diverse settings.

Historical documents are sources of evidence you might use in research, not the method itself. Social interaction describes a type of social behavior, not a method for comparing groups. Beliefs are ideas or ideologies people hold, which can be studied, but not the method of cross-group comparison. The term that fits the described study method is the comparative study.