Introduction to Quantification and its Approaches

Quantification is a mean to bring precision in any scientific inquiry. Its use in geography has given new

dimensions to geographic research and has played a significant role in the development of the subject.

Quantification is an approach in the observation of a phenomenon. We can observe a phenomenon

qualitatively as well as quantitatively. Whereas research mostly concludes in qualitative terms,

quantification helps us in arriving at these conclusions objectively.

There are two main approaches in Quantitative analysis; 

(1) Mathematical and (2) statistical

Mathematical methods

 Mathematical methods includes those tools and techniques, like

algebra, geometry, calculus and matrices etc., which are suitable to the phenomenon where

the responses are exact in nature. Such responses are mainly found in the laboratory

experiments of natural sciences. Since these responses are exact in nature a single

experimental trial is sufficient to get the result. For example, if we are interested in finding

out the specific heat of cupper (calories of heat require to raise the temperature one gram of

the metal by one degree centigrade), we can carry out an experiment once and take the

reading to get the result. Only one response is sufficient to get the result. There is no need of

repeating this experiment due to the fact that any repetition will give the identical results,

either today, tomorrow or at any other place.

Statistical Methods

Statistical methods, which are based on principle aggregation, on the

contrary are suitable to the phenomenon where the responses are not exact in nature. Such

phenomenon are mainly found in social and behavioural sciences where human being are the

respondents. In social sciences if we observe a phenomenon repeatedly, it may not give identical results. Every response will differ from the other marginally. Reason being that

human responses do not work like machines of the laboratory. Human responses follow social

laws which are superimposed by some behavioural elements also. Whereas the response of a

social force may be identical for all the similar people in the society, the behavioural response

vary from individual to individual, causing an element of error in the responses. No single

response, therefore, give the accurate results and tools of mathematical methods of analysis

do not help due to the presence of this element of error term. Statistical methods help us in

finding out the underlying correct response by minimizing the error with the help of theory of

aggregation.

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