My path from traditional to critical quantitative methods: integrating racial equity frameworks in quantitative research

Abstract

Although traditional quantitative approaches often reinforce the status quo (white supremacy), scholars dating back to W.E.B. Du Bois have also used them for justice to challenge racial and systemic inequities. This paper traces my personal journey from traditional (post)positivism quantitative methods to embracing critical methodologies, particularly those grounded in racial justice. I then highlight the transformative potential of emerging frameworks such as Quantitative Critical Race Theory (QuantCrit), Critical Structural Equation Modeling (CritSEM), Critical Race Mixed Methods (CRMM), and Justice-oriented Anti-racist Validation (JAV). These approaches not only challenge the biases embedded in quantitative research but also reimagine data collection, analysis, and interpretation to center justice. The paper concludes with a discussion on the future of critical quantitative methods, emphasizing the need for continued scholarship, methodological innovation, and training to institutionalize these approaches in research and policy.