[JOKE] How you arrive at your conclusion

Holmes and Watson are on a camping trip. In the middle of the night Holmes wakes up and gives Dr. Watson a nudge. "Watson," he says, "look up in the sky and tell me what you see."

"I see millions of stars, Holmes," says Watson.
"And what do you conclude from that, Watson?"

Watson thinks for a moment. "Well", he says, "astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. Theologically, I see God is all-powerful, and we are small and insignificant. Uh, what does it tell you, Holmes?"

"Watson, you idiot! Someone has stolen our tent!"

Making sense of number sense

Gorard. (2006). Using everyday numbers effectively in research.


Simply put, quantitative approach refers to research methods based on evidence in the form of numbers or measures, while qualitative approach refers to those in the form of texts and narrations. However, treating them as separate 'paradigms' is not a good thing. I think the field of LT (Language Technology ) should be more open to work that mixes data of all kinds in searching for better solutions.

Starting quantitative research with statistics can be off-putting for newcomers with anxieties about mathematics. This may worsen the situation. A potential way out, could be to promote the sense of numbers, to realize how the kind of simple numeric techniques we use daily are of considerable value in our research as well. This is what this book seeks to do. Interesting.