Quantitative and qualitative social science: Toward a multilateral conceptualization for normative use

Abstract: The philosophy of social science is today, from the perspective of the scientists themselves, dominated by the notions of quantitative and qualitative research. Social scientists make distinctions between a wide range of different aspects of research in terms of what is quantitative and qualitative. The purpose of this paper is to integrate these distinctions into a useful conceptualization. First, I set up criteria for usefulness. Second, I show that one overarching distinction between quantitative and qualitative research, that is, a unilateral conceptualization, is insufficient for optimizing usefulness. Third, I suggest a multilateral conceptualization with three overarching distinctions between (1) interpretive versus non-interpretive research, (2) fixing versus developing the assumptions that are operative in interpretation, and (3) elements of quantity versus quality. Finally, I use this conceptualization to define the terms ?quantitative? and ?qualitative?, with a demarcation based on differing strategies for achieving interpretability.