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Theories and Quantification in History

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 January 2016

Jürgen Kocka
Jürgen Kocka*
Affiliation:
Bielefeld University
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Extract

How do theory-oriented history and quantitative history relate to each other? According to Morgan Kousser, theory and methodology—meaning statistical and mathematical methodology for quantitative work—“are like the Emperor and his new clothes; without the one, you have an empty suit; without the other, a nude old man” (Kousser, 1977). I disagree. There is, on the one hand, quantitative historical work without much theory. On the other hand, there exists good theoretical history of a basically nonquantitative character. Whereas quantitative history can only gain by becoming more theoretical, theory orientation does not always lead to quantification.

Type
Research Article
Information
Social Science History , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , Spring 1984 , pp. 169 - 178
Copyright
Copyright © Social Science History Association 1984 

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