Kvantifikaation

Kvantifikaation is a conceptual process used in various disciplines to systematically convert qualitative information into quantitative measurements. The goal is to enable comparison, statistical analysis, and integration with numerical models while aiming to preserve the meaning of the original observations.

Core elements of kvantifikaation include operationalization, scale construction, calibration, and validation. Operationalization involves defining variables and observable indicators that reflect the underlying phenomenon. Scale construction assigns numeric codes and determines the level of measurement (for example, ordinal or interval scales). Calibration establishes how indicators map to numeric values, and validation assesses reliability and validity to ensure that the measurements reflect what they intend to measure.

Common techniques range from coding schemes for qualitative data to statistical methods for latent constructs, such as factor analysis or item response theory. Computational approaches also play a role, with machine learning used to produce scores from texts, images, sensor data, or other non-numeric inputs. The choice of method depends on the phenomenon, the intended use of the data, and the acceptable trade-offs between accuracy and interpretability.

Applications of kvantifikaation appear in the social sciences, education, health, environmental monitoring, user experience research, and policy evaluation. Critics point to challenges such as measurement bias, loss of nuance, cultural specificity, context dependence, and ethical concerns when quantifying human experiences or complex processes.

See also: Quantification, Measurement theory, Operationalization, Scaling, Latent variable.