Outcome factorisation

Outcome factorisation is a method for quantifiably comparing outcomes generated by similar activities, used in quantitative research. This process of measurement is central to quantitative research because it provides a fundamental and measurable connection between empirical observation and mathematical expression of the quantitative relationships. It has been used in various areas of social sciences and has been the basis of many market research projects.^{[citation needed]}

Calculation

One method of calculating outcome factorisation is as follow:^[1]

Prepare a qualitative questionnaire asking the respondents to give a score of between −10 and +10.
Average out the scores. A weighted average can be used. Calculate the average of all the questionnaires from respondents
Calculate the inverse natural logarithm. This is the outcome factorisation (OF). This can be produced on excel spreadsheets by using the EXP(..) function.
This number can be divided by the cost (per day) to create the outcome factorisation per unit of currency – UK £ or US dollars.

History

The use of such a tool for epistemology and ontology in social science research has been referred to by Pierre Bourdieu.^[2] The nature of the outcome results gives a fine balance between the Positivist and Interpretivist paradigms, Positivism and Interpretivism.

The original theories of outcome factorisation are probably derived from discussions at the Albach Symposium in the 1960s which were held in the honor of Erwin Schrödinger.^[3]

References

^ Sun Ging-Yun, Empirical methodology in the tautological study of qualitative and quantitative social interaction data, Albany: State University of New York Press 1982
^ Pierre Bourdieu, The polythetic space of stochastic social science theory : Esquisse d'une théorie de la pratique, précédé de trois études d'ethnologie kabyle, (1972), Eng. Outline of a Theory of Practice, Cambridge University Press 1977.
^ Koestler A, Beyond reductionism, new perspectives in the life sciences : [proceedings of] the Albach Symposium 1968 London: Hutchinson & Co 1969

[1] Sun Ging-Yun, Empirical methodology in the tautological study of qualitative and quantitative social interaction data, Albany: State University of New York Press 1982

[2] Pierre Bourdieu, The polythetic space of stochastic social science theory : Esquisse d'une théorie de la pratique, précédé de trois études d'ethnologie kabyle, (1972), Eng. Outline of a Theory of Practice, Cambridge University Press 1977.

[3] Koestler A, Beyond reductionism, new perspectives in the life sciences : [proceedings of] the Albach Symposium 1968 London: Hutchinson & Co 1969

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