The Comparitive Method is similar in many ways to Ethnocentricty. It is a school of thought that subscribes to the belief that comparison between cultures and societies fosters more pure knowledge, and a further basis of understanding communites and cultures in light of one particular frame of reference.
This seems to me to be a biased approach, and perhaps even an easy way out for practicioners of this belief. While it may have it's advantages, such as providing a basis for understanding for the layperson, as well as easily communicated conclusions and observations, there are several limitations and shortcomings to this type of approach. Some that I found in my research are listed as follows:
It is impossible to account for similarities in various cultures due simply to the similarites of the physiology of the human mind.
Similar traits may have developed for very different purposes or reasons.
The view that cultural differences are of minor importance is baseless.
Limits contextual understanding of a culture.
Many researchers and anthropologists alike subscribe to the point of view that an unbiased, ehtnogrpahic and unobtrusive methodology is best to truly understand a culture. And I agree.
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