The Real and Unrealized Contributions of Quantitative Sociology

Abstract

There are real trends in the quality of data analysis, owing to the computer revolution, interdisciplinary borrowing, and the availability of large data sets. Less obvious are improvements in the quality of data collection, conceptualization and measurement, or the ignoring of data gaps. Nor has the quality of our training or our students improved. The result is an increasing communication gap and failure of practices to keep pace with the technical literature. A case for quantification is made. Ideally, hidden assumptions are made explicit, common sense can be clarified and refined, systematic search procedures developed, intractable problems located, and new theoretical insights obtained. But there are disciplinary obstacles to improving training, increasing the quality of graduate students, improving editorial policies, and promoting on the basis of quality rather than quantity of publications. We need to face this quality problem head on.

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