Looking backward to look forward: Tracing critical quantitative perspectives in critical consciousness research

Abstract

This paper examines the evolution of quantitative approaches in critical consciousness (CC) research through a critical quantitative (CritQuant) perspective. Historically, CC scholarship relied on qualitative methods due to concerns about the restrictive assumptions and historical biases of quantitative methodologies. However, since 2005, quantitative methods have become common in CC research. We reflect on five principles of CritQuant — foundation, goals, parity, subjectivity, and self-reflexivity — to demonstrate how they align with past and present CC research. Our hope is that CritQuant, QuantCrit, and allied methodologies will continue to inform and be informed by CC and related research.