Statistics has always been Päivi's Achilles' heel. She has been struggling even with the most basic formulas and calculations mixing up averages, medians, and probabilities. To tackle her weakness, Päivi decided to get her 3rd PhD degree on statistics. Her first PhD was on Finnishness (Tampere University, Finland) and the second on Global Nomads (Tilburg University, Netherlands). The newest thesis is on Qualitative Statistics, which is a new, emerging research area thanks to the booming Artificial Intelligence research.
Qualitative Statistics versus Quantitative Statistics
Qualitative statistics -- as the name implies -- focusses on quality over quantity. This means leaving numbers, samples and spreadsheets aside, and instead analysing the research problem using qualitative methods. Let's take an example. How can we analyse, for example, how good a classroom of students are?
- The quantitive method would approach the problem by calculating the average grade (the arithmetic mean) and use the number to define how well the students do.
- In qualitative statics, on the other hand, we can focus on the word 'mean'. 'Mean' carries not only the meaning of 'average' but also of 'poor, shabby, or inferior quality or status' and even 'malice' and 'evil'.
So the question is, do we really want to define how good the class is by insinuating that they are not good? If we choose the latter, a more human approach is to apply the methods of qualitative statistics. This way we will be able to reformulate the research problem and focus on finding a more positive solution to the problem that is much more than just a number that is bigger than 0.
As the example shows, qualitative statistics is oriented towards problem solving rather than accumulating data. It is positive, and encourages new, constructive viewpoints beyond traditional statistical categories. Qualitative statistics has several practical implications, for example, in psychology showing the power of suggestion.
Päivi wrote her thesis for an Uzbek university in Uzbekistan. They allowed Päivi to complete her degree remotely, which expedited the process. Päivi's diploma arrived by mail yesterday (see the photo on top).
We want to thank the Supreme Professor Abdulaziz Hamid Akbar, the namesake of the third cousin of His Excellency the Supreme Leader Abdulaziz Akmal Ibragimov, for his kind co-operation. Katta rahmat!