English
The aim of this article is to show thatwhile knowledge can be gained fromcomparison, talking of comparative studiesmay be a misuse of the word. Theauthor bases her argument on two studiesconducted from a comprehensivesociology viewpoint, concerning cohabitationbetween young adults and theirparents in France and Brazil. The questionin the research, the theoretical frameworkand the indicators used in thetwo studies are identical. On finalizing theanalyses however, the question needs tobe reformulated. While the former caseinforms us about independence, the latteris about family solidarity.