Quantitative methods for educational psychology help give solid, objective data points for making decisions. Mark Twain is famously quoted as saying, “There are three kinds of lies: Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics”. While this may be true, George Orwell said, “Political language... is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.” While these comments may make you wonder at my point, they together sum up quantitative methods with their power and influence over institutions wielding power and influence.

The strength of objective, quantitative methods is in their confidence and surety of outcome. When testing and analyzing are done with good motives and process, there is hard evidence to suggest best outcomes for the student. As demonstrated with the class, students develop with more fluidity. The government felt confident in raising testing requirements and teachers recognized a better transition through all learning stages. These are all positive things that quantitative recording and analysis provided.

The weakness of the quantitative psychology methods lies in the data. It is easy to use data to generalize and label groups. It is the same way data is used in the public to marginalize groups that are ethnic, religious, political, etc. When this happens, it leaves no room for the unexpected, or outliers. It leaves room for human leaders to make non-human decisions with less than human empathy. I think a good example of this is children with autism. (There are many more examples) These children were labeled as incapable for many years under the guise of good data from scientists. Things are changing now, maybe because there is more data, maybe because there is more empathy.

It is not my point to argue the why and how, only to demonstrate the power, the strength, and the weakness of using quantitative psychology methods in relation to institutional bodies. There is great benefit to using data to make improvements, but it must always be noted that data will never perfectly universalize the total of individuals and their development for universalism does not exist. Some room must be left to allow each person an opportunity to be an outlier, to break away and impress.

https://www.apa.org/education-career/guide/subfields/quantitative#:~:text=Quantitative%20Psychology%20Applied&text=They%20serve%20as%20experts%20in,and%20colleges%20across%20the%20nation.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-strategy-for-autistic-children-young-people-and-adults-2021-to-2026/the-national-strategy-for-autistic-children-young-people-and-adults-2021-to-2026#improving-understanding-and-acceptance-of-autism-within-society-1