| Abstract: | The purpose of this study is to investigate how 'comparative argument', namely references to the educational policies and practices of other countries, was used by Greek politicians in the framework of the 1997-1998 educational reform. Employing the method of quantitative and qualitative content analysis, we attempted, on the basis of original sources (parliamentary minutes/debates) both to count and interpret the comparative references. Our research questions were: do politicians in Greece use the comparative argument and in what way? Which specific countries, issues and practices is comparative argument centred on? What is the form, the role and the quality of the comparative argument? |
