The mindset of quantitative research
Sep. 24, 2018
Most researchers learn about quantitative analysis: inferential statistics, correlation, classification or clustering. All of these techniques deal with measuring a relationship among attributes or objects to make statements about reality. They are usually influenced by Hume’s conception of a cause: an event that always precedes another in time. However, most of these analytical techniques hardly ever can state something about causation. It is because reality is formed by open systems, which are intrinsically complex. Therefore, quantitative research mainly focuses in finding not causal links but predictive patterns: frequent relationships under a given context. This idea has a strong influence in the mindset of quantitative research: to preserve or emulate those patterns, reality has to be shaped, controlled, and led carefully. Reality and its transformation must be enclosed.