Critiquant

Critiquant is a term used in some academic discussions to describe an approach that blends critical theory with quantitative analysis to study social, political, and economic phenomena. Proponents argue that data practices are not neutral but shaped by power and institutions, while quantitative methods can reveal patterns that qualitative inquiry might miss. The term signals a commitment to reflexivity about data and to analysis that attends to ethical and social implications.

Origin and usage: The label appears in debates within critical data studies, data feminism, and mixed-methods research from the late 2010s onward. It is not a standardized methodological package; rather, it designates a family of practices that foreground critique of data practices alongside quantitative reasoning.

Methodology: Critiquants typically employ mixed methods, combining statistical analysis with qualitative inquiry, participatory design, or narrative inquiry. They emphasize transparency about data sources, measurement bias, algorithmic accountability, and the need for sensitivity analyses that account for context and potential harms.

Applications: Use cases include policy evaluation, urban and education research, labor market analysis, and studies of algorithmic governance, where researchers examine both numerical trends and structural factors such as inequality and governance biases.

Criticisms and limitations: The label can be vague or used inconsistently. Critics argue it risks over-politicizing data without clear, practical methods, or that reconciling strict quantitative methods with critical theory is difficult. Resource demands and reproducibility concerns are also noted.

See also: critical data studies, data feminism, mixed methods, algorithmic accountability.