Against method: Exploding the boundary between qualitative and quantitative studies of science
AbstractQuantitative and qualitative studies of science have historically played radically different roles with opposing epistemological commitments. Using large-scale text analysis, we see that qualitative studies generate and value new theory, especially regarding the complex socia...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The MIT Press
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Quantitative Science Studies |
| Online Access: | https://direct.mit.edu/qss/article/1/3/930/96099/Against-method-Exploding-the-boundary-between |
| _version_ | 1818271331405266944 |
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| author | Donghyun Kang James Evans |
| author_facet | Donghyun Kang James Evans |
| author_sort | Donghyun Kang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
AbstractQuantitative and qualitative studies of science have historically played radically different roles with opposing epistemological commitments. Using large-scale text analysis, we see that qualitative studies generate and value new theory, especially regarding the complex social and political contexts of scientific action, while quantitative approaches confirm existing theory and evaluate the performance of scientific institutions. Large-scale digital data and emerging computational methods could allow us to refigure these positions, turning qualitative artifacts into quantitative patterns into qualitative insights across many scales, heralding a new era of theory development, engagement, and relevance for scientists, policy-makers, and society. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T21:24:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc6ce7f717974a5f8bf5f88546dda290 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2641-3337 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T21:24:29Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | The MIT Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Quantitative Science Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc6ce7f717974a5f8bf5f88546dda2902022-12-22T00:11:30ZengThe MIT PressQuantitative Science Studies2641-33372020-01-011393094410.1162/qss_a_00056Against method: Exploding the boundary between qualitative and quantitative studies of scienceDonghyun Kang0http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6241-8910James Evans1http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9838-0707Sociology Department, University of ChicagoSociology Department, University of Chicago AbstractQuantitative and qualitative studies of science have historically played radically different roles with opposing epistemological commitments. Using large-scale text analysis, we see that qualitative studies generate and value new theory, especially regarding the complex social and political contexts of scientific action, while quantitative approaches confirm existing theory and evaluate the performance of scientific institutions. Large-scale digital data and emerging computational methods could allow us to refigure these positions, turning qualitative artifacts into quantitative patterns into qualitative insights across many scales, heralding a new era of theory development, engagement, and relevance for scientists, policy-makers, and society.https://direct.mit.edu/qss/article/1/3/930/96099/Against-method-Exploding-the-boundary-between |
| spellingShingle | Donghyun Kang James Evans Against method: Exploding the boundary between qualitative and quantitative studies of science Quantitative Science Studies |
| title | Against method: Exploding the boundary between qualitative and quantitative studies of science |
| title_full | Against method: Exploding the boundary between qualitative and quantitative studies of science |
| title_fullStr | Against method: Exploding the boundary between qualitative and quantitative studies of science |
| title_full_unstemmed | Against method: Exploding the boundary between qualitative and quantitative studies of science |
| title_short | Against method: Exploding the boundary between qualitative and quantitative studies of science |
| title_sort | against method exploding the boundary between qualitative and quantitative studies of science |
| url | https://direct.mit.edu/qss/article/1/3/930/96099/Against-method-Exploding-the-boundary-between |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT donghyunkang againstmethodexplodingtheboundarybetweenqualitativeandquantitativestudiesofscience AT jamesevans againstmethodexplodingtheboundarybetweenqualitativeandquantitativestudiesofscience |