Quantitative psychologists apply mathematical and statistical concepts to psychological principles, earning a doctorate in psychology and quantitative techniques. They can work in fields such as psychological attribute measurement, research design, data analysis, and modeling psychological processes. The demand for quantitative psychologists is high, but there are relatively few doctoral degrees awarded in the field each year.
A quantitative psychologist is a psychologist specially trained to apply mathematical and statistical concepts to psychological principles. Typically, quantitative psychologists earn a doctorate in psychology and quantitative techniques. They can apply this training to research projects in any branch of psychology.
One of the fields in which a quantitative psychologist can work is the measurement of psychological attributes such as IQ. Quantitative psychologists may develop tests and other measurement tools used in psychological research or in everyday psychological processes. They can also evaluate psychological measurement tools, making sure they are reliable and valid ways of measuring psychological principles.
Research design is another place where a quantitative psychologist can apply his techniques. Designing reliable research designs is difficult, and quantitative psychologists can help develop research methods that get better results. They can focus on designing the data collection method, refining it or creating tools like surveys and tests.
It is also important that a psychological research study be able to clearly show cause and effect. A qualitative psychologist can ensure that the study design is solid enough to draw conclusions. A credible study is also generalizable, meaning a researcher can make inferences about the general population based on the results of the people in the study. This is another area where a quantitative psychologist can check and improve the study.
Quantitative psychologists are also trained to mathematically and statistically analyze psychological data. For example, they might take a result from a clinical trial and use statistics to determine whether or not the result is relevant, or whether the results could be due to chance. They can also use mathematical and statistical principles to compare different research methods to see which is best.
Statistics and other mathematical principles can also be applied to psychology to model psychological processes. For example, a quantitative psychologist might use a mathematical principle to model a person’s decision-making process. Computer models are another way that quantitative psychologists can model and describe psychological principles.
An American Psychological Association (APA) task force found that while the demand for quantitative psychologists is quite high, there are relatively few doctoral degrees awarded in the field each year. This means that the job market for a quantitative psychologist is pretty good as of the late 2000s. A psychology student must undergo rigorous training, including math and statistics courses, to become a quantitative psychologist. This emphasis on math may be what puts off many students.
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