DT>Hey....could this have been a qualitative study?  Sounds like a 
DT>comparative study...observational study....
RM>Observational does not mean qualitative... I would venture 
RM>to say that much of the data was numerical, thus the study
RM>was quantitative...
DT>If someone merely compares numerical data that makes it quantitative?  
The data is quantitative, and depending on one's point of 
view, ANY conclusions would be quantitative.  If one were 
to be a stickler, the conclusions would be quantitative 
only if numbers were stated.  The study as a whole is 
quantitative.
DT>Would that also make it scientifically acceptable?
Scientific means scientific method, period; it pertains to
a methodology, not to the type of data or conclusion...
DT>Does the simple fact that a study looks at data from a numerical 
DT>point of view make it quantitative?
Yes, by definition...
DT>If so, how must the data be interpreted (what methods used?) to 
DT>qualify as a scientific study?
It's not only a question of how the data is interpreted, but
also of how the data is COLLECTED.  Isolation of variables,
controls, manipulation of variables, etc all have to be in
place during data collection if the data is to mean anything
scientifically....
SK>-> conclusion:  " . . . despite its almost universal acceptance in
DT>   ^^^^^^^^^^
SK>-> the U.S., our algebra curriculum -- late, abruptly introduced
SK>-> and isolated -- is simply beyond repair," writes WCER.  WCER is
SK>-> located at the school of education, U of Wisconsin-Madison.
RM>And once again, despite the numerical data, the conclusion
RM>is pure supposition since it totally ignores any number of
RM>socioeconomic and cultural considerations....
DT>Ratty...
I beg your pardon?     
DT>I think you answered my above question here...but......
If not, then the clarifications here should finish the job..
DT>I think I've gotten confused a bit here.
As I tell my students, confusion is the natural order of
things; you'll spend more time confused than any other way!
DT>A few chapters into the book should provide me with enough information 
DT>to make me an instant expert (grin).....and then you better be 
DT>prepared for some tough questions.
Have pity!  It's taken me 2 months or more to get us to the
point where we agree on the terminology!   ;-)
DT>Hey.....Merry Christmas if I don't hear from you sooner.  
You too, my friend.... And the best of New Years...
___
 * MR/2 2.26 * MSDOS&PCDOS&CP/M&WINDOWSI'LLFIDDLEWITHOS/2WOULDN'TYOU?
--- Maximus/2 3.01
---------------