A common usage in discussion of social science links quantitative styles of inquiry and data collection with a 'hard' view of the world, and qualitative approaches with a 'soft' view. As with many unexamined language patterns, these distinctions serve to convey tacit attitudes about the topic under discussion: the connotations of these terms are such as to suggest that 'hard' social science is masculine and to be respected, whilst 'soft' social science is feminine and of a lower order of activity. The message conveyed in these tacit usages is that quantitative work is courageous, hard biting, hard work.

Real Men Don't Collect Soft Data

Gherardi, Silvia;
1987-01-01

Abstract

A common usage in discussion of social science links quantitative styles of inquiry and data collection with a 'hard' view of the world, and qualitative approaches with a 'soft' view. As with many unexamined language patterns, these distinctions serve to convey tacit attitudes about the topic under discussion: the connotations of these terms are such as to suggest that 'hard' social science is masculine and to be respected, whilst 'soft' social science is feminine and of a lower order of activity. The message conveyed in these tacit usages is that quantitative work is courageous, hard biting, hard work.
1987
Trento
Università di Trento. Dipartimento di politica sociale
Gherardi, Silvia; Turner, Barry
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11572/22823
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