Between counting and understanding

An operationalized bridging procedure at the interface of two seemingly contradictory research paradigms

Abstract

In empirical psychotherapy research, the polarized methodological debate between qualitative and quantitative approaches is increasingly being resolved in favor of a combination of perspectives. Instead of relying on a combination of ideologically opposed methods, as in mixed-methods designs, this article proposes a research logic in which counting and understanding interact within a single experimental setup. The association experiment, on the other hand, stands between the apparent opposites of measuring and understanding and, in this respect, integrates essential aspects of both traditions into a single procedure. Individual subjectivity, collective patterns of interpretation, and formal criteria are intertwined through specific guidelines. An example is given to show how measuring encounters via associations as a link between ways of thinking is gaining profile and opening up new possibilities for psychotherapy research, training, and practice, as well as transdisciplinary perspectives.