Often referred as a comparative study, the comparison study involves a systematized endeavor to compare two items, with an eye toward identifying points that the items hold in common, along with citing areas where the two items differ. Comparison studies take place in a number of different environments, and usually have a specific purpose in mind. Here are some examples of why a comparison study may be conducted, and how the study is often structured.

The comparison study is often used in the business world as a means of identifying how a given good or service compares to similar products offered by a competitor. In going through the process of comparing each facet of the two items, it is often possible to identify areas where both products perform at a similar rate of efficiency. At the same time, comparative studies will often yield insights about areas where one product excels in comparison with the other. Utilizing the results of the comparison study, it is possible to develop some powerful tools that can be incorporated into corporate marketing strategies and sales campaigns.

The comparison study is also often used in the education process. In some instances, the comparison study may form the basis for a school project, such as comparing two authors or works of literature. On a larger scale, school systems and universities may embark on a comparison study process to look into the pros and cons associated with different learning techniques. The underlying purpose of the comparative study is to become better acquainted with the two items under consideration, and hopefully learn how to utilize the tools afforded by both approaches in the task of education.

At the root of the research design of a comparison study is the rubric. Essentially, a rubric is the set of criteria that is used to evaluate each aspect of the two items under comparison. Often, the systematic rubric model will include some sort of a grading process for each aspect. The grading process may involve a simple scoring range, or be more comprehensive. At the root of the rubric analysis is the determination to arrange the value of each aspect so that is possible to compare the level of quality and the relevance of the aspect to the person or group that is conducting the comparison study.