comparanda

Comparanda is a term used in research and comparative analysis to denote the items, data, or cases that are used as points of comparison with another subject in order to assess similarities, differences, or causal relationships. The singular form comparandum refers to a single item to be compared; comparanda is the common plural in scholarly writing.

In study design, comparanda serve as reference points or benchmarks. They may be observed data, texts, populations, samples, or situations that share relevant features with the subject under study but differ in the characteristic being examined. Proper selection aims to maximize relevance and comparability while minimizing confounding variation, often by aligning variables such as time period, context, scale, and measurement method.

In practice, researchers analyze the focal subject alongside its comparanda to draw inferences about what differences are attributable to the variable of interest rather than to extraneous factors. Fields such as anthropology, linguistics, psychology, archaeology, and legal studies use comparanda to test hypotheses, calibrate models, or interpret cross-case patterns. For example, cross-cultural studies may compare ethnolinguistic groups as comparanda; legal scholars may examine comparable statutes in different jurisdictions.

Etymology: from Latin comparandum, the neuter gerundive of comparare, meaning “that which is to be compared.” In contemporary usage, comparandum appears mainly in methodological or formal writing; comparanda is used for multiple items.