There is increasing interest in the conduct of international studies t
hat compare health care outcomes. This paper draws from the literature
in sociology, anthropology, and psychology to examine the problems th
at can be encountered when collecting primary data for comparative pur
poses. Issues of study design, selection, development, and adaptation
of instruments, problems encountered in collecting primary data, and t
echniques for analyzing comparative data are discussed. The paper is i
ntended as a primer for health services researchers conducting compara
tive outcomes research in international settings.