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	Wed, 17 Feb 93 12:01:41 -0800 for /usr/lib/sendmail -oc -odq -oQ/var/spool/lqueue -oi -fsocgrad-relay socgrad-list
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1993 12:57:43 CST
From: "Jennifer A. Parsons  " <U37343@UICVM.UIC.EDU>
To: <SOCGRAD@ucsd.edu>
Subject: Tastes great, less filling . . .
Regarding the debate about the value of quantitative and qualitative methods
(per Jon Epstein, Pamela Paxton) I agree with Pamela's assertion that such
quibbling about the emphasis (or over-emphasis in some people's minds) on
statistical methodology only serves to further fragment the discipline. Not
only are mathematical and statistical models important for testing theory, but
such training is important to understand research outside of the discpline.
Take economics for instance - a highly quantitative science that has been
important to much sociological theorizing.  There are always going to be
advocates on both sides of the fence, but sooner or later everyone will have to
jump over and see what the other side has to offer.
Yes, I am partial to quantitative sociology, but I think such dichotomies are
trivial anyway.  I recommend Blalock's careful disscusion of the status of the
discipline in this regard - "The Real and Unrealized Contributions of
Quantitative Sociology" (ASR 54(3): 447-60, 1989). It's a good springboard for
further debate.

Cheers,
Jennifer Parsons
Univ. of IL, Chicago