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quantitative versus qualitative methods  

Definition

  • Perhaps no division in the social sciences is so persistent, nettlesome, and poorly understood as the division between quantitative and qualitative ways of knowing. The cleavage can be traced back to the first applications of statistics within the disciplines of economics, political science, and sociology, and it became increasingly acute in the late 20th century as quantitative approaches gained in stature, grew in complexity, and pushed qualitative empirical analysis out of the limelight. [Source: International Encyclopedia of Political Science; Quantitative versus Qualitative Methods]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/quantitative_versus_qualitative_methods

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