Functional analysis of sandstone ground stone tools: arguments for a qualitative and quantitative synergetic approach

Abstract In the last few years, the application of quantitative methods in the field of use wear analysis has grown considerably, involving the use of different techniques. A development in surface measurements approaches has become necessary as standard assessments based upon qualitative functional analysis are often affected by a degree of subjectivity and a limited reproducibility. To advance the current methodological debate on functional analysis of ground stone technology, we present a combined methodological approach, including qualitative and quantitative analyses, applied to the study of experimental sandstone ground stone tools. We test surface quantification at a macro and micro-scale, paired with the observation and description of residue and use wear connected to the processing of plant, animal and mineral matters. Our results provide an exhaustive quantitative dataset concerning surface modifications associated with different uses and suggest an analytical workflow for the functional analysis of both experimental and archaeological ground stone assemblages. We also highlight the limitation and pitfalls of an exclusive adoption of quantitative methods in the study of ancient tool use demonstrating how a synergetic approach can enhance the quality, reproducibility and comparability of functional data.

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A Multi-Methodological Approach to Study Systems Development in a Software Organization

Software Applications ◽

10.4018/978-1-60566-060-8.ch134 ◽

2009 ◽

pp. 2285-2306

Author(s):

Paivi Ovaska

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Quantitative Methods ◽

Development Process ◽

Organizational Context ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Research Process ◽

Systems Development ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽

Software Organization

Large-scale systems development is a complex activity involving number of dependencies that people working together face. Only a few studies concentrate on the coordination of development activities in their organizational context. This research study tries to fill at least part of this gap by studying how systems development process is coordinated in practice. The study uses a multimethodological approach to interpret coordination of systems development process in a contemporary software organization in Finland. The methodology is based on the empirical casestudy approach in which the actions, conceptions, and artefacts of practitioners are analyzed using within-case and cross-case principles. In all the three phases of the study, namely multi-\site coordination, requirement understanding, and working with systems development methods, both the qualitative and quantitative methods were used to an understanding of coordination in systems development. The main contribution of this study is to demonstrate that contemporary systems development is much more complex and more driven by opportunity than is currently acknowledged by researchers. The most challenging part of the research process was the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, because of the lack of multimethodological work done in IS discipline.

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Beyond networks: Aligning qualitative and computational science studies

Quantitative Science Studies ◽

10.1162/qss_a_00055 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 1017-1024 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Alberto Cambrosio ◽

Jean-Philippe Cointet ◽

Alexandre Hannud Abdo

Keyword(s):

Language Processing ◽

Science And Technology Studies ◽

Quantitative Methods ◽

Social Cognitive ◽

Science Studies ◽

State Of The Art ◽

Computational Tools ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative ◽

Quantitative Analyses ◽

The Relationship

This article examines the thorny issue of the relationship (or lack thereof) between qualitative and quantitative approaches in Science and Technology Studies (STS). Although quantitative methods, broadly understood, played an important role in the beginnings of STS, these two approaches subsequently strongly diverged, leaving an increasing gap that only a few scholars have tried to bridge. After providing a short overview of the origins and development of quantitative analyses of textual corpora, we critically examine the state of the art in this domain. Focusing on the availability of advanced network structure analysis tools and Natural Language Processing workflows, we interrogate the fault lines between the increasing offer of computational tools in search of possible uses and the conceptual specifications of STS scholars wishing to explore the epistemic and ontological dimensions of techno-scientific activities. Finally, we point to possible ways to overcome the tension between ethnographic descriptions and quantitative methods while continuing to avoid the dichotomies (social/cognitive, organizing/experimenting) that STS has managed to discard.

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Abordagem metodológica da geodiversidade e temas correlatos em Geossistemas Ferruginosos / Methodological approach of geodiversity and related themes in Ferruginous Geosystems

Caderno de Geografia ◽

10.5752/p.2318-2962.2018v28nespp1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

Úrsula De Azevedo Ruchkys ◽

Carmélia Kerolly Ramos de Oliveira ◽

Helder Lages Jardim ◽

Leonardo Miguel De Sousa Jorge

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Methods ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Economic Value ◽

Minas Gerais ◽

Integrated System ◽

Holistic View ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽

The Earth ◽

Gaia Theory

Os estudos relacionados à geodiversidade, geoconservação, geoturismo e geopatrimônio buscam compreender a Terra a partir de uma visão holística, associado a teoria de Gaia, onde os elementos bióticos e abióticos constituem um sistema dinâmico e integrado. O prefixo geo surgiu na década de 1990 com intuito de uma abordagem sistêmica para os ecossistemas terrestres, embora a diversidade abiótica seja o alvo principal. Os geos (diversidade, patrimônio, conservação e turismo) apresentam técnicas e métodos específicos, nesse contexto o presente trabalho buscou apresentar os métodos qualitativos e quantitativos aplicados aos Geossistemas Ferruginosos, a partir de trabalhos desenvolvidos no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Análise e Modelagem de Sistemas Ambientais da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. O estado de Minas Gerais representa a maior porção dos Geossistemas Ferruginosos do Brasil, esses geossistemas possuem importantes valores patrimoniais, além de elevado valor econômico, justificando a utilização de métodos que auxiliem no inventário, conhecimento científico, educação ambiental, reconhecimento patrimonial e medidas de conservação.Palavras–chave: geodiversidade, geopatrimônio, geoconservação, geoturismo, métodos, geossistemas ferruginosos.Abstract Studies related to geodiversity, geoconservation, geotourism and geoheritage seek to understand the Earth from a holistic view, associated with Gaia theory, where the biotic and abiotic elements constitute a dynamic and integrated system. The geo prefix emerged in the 1990s for a systemic approach to global ecosystems, although abiotic diversity is the primary target. Geos (diversity, heritage, conservation and tourism) present specific techniques and methods, in this context the present work sought to introduce the qualitative and quantitative methods applied to Ferruginous Geosystems, from works developed in the Programa de Pós-Graduação em Análise e Modelagem de Sistemas Ambientais of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. The state of Minas Gerais has the most significant portion of the Ferruginous Geosystems of Brazil, these geosystems have important patrimonial values, besides high economic value, justifying the use of methods that assist in the inventory, scientific knowledge, environmental education, heritage recognition and conservation measures.Keywords: geodiversity, geoheritage, geoconservation, geotourism, methods, ferruginous geosystems.

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Mixing Methodologies

10.4018/978-1-6684-3881-7.ch013 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 222-242

Author(s):

Jo Denton

Keyword(s):

Educational Research ◽

Research Design ◽

Quantitative Methods ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Empirical Methods ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽

Sliding Scale ◽

Cyclical Process ◽

Theoretical Standpoint

Should research in a particular field follow the traditional or favoured methodologies associated with that field, or, if it is desirable for the empirical methods of research to be mixed, can the same not be said for the theoretical standpoint of the research design? Does mixing methodologies imply that methodologies can be placed on a sliding scale to create a new methodology from combining elements of the old; or does it imply an iterative or cyclical process, using a suitable methodology for the stage in the research? This chapter explores what combining qualitative and quantitative methods actually means in terms of social and educational research and how this can assist in developing a mixed methodological approach suitable for addressing wicked problems faced in education in the rapidly evolving Anthropocene epoch. To address these issues, the chapter proposes a new term for combining methodologies: ‘omniduction,' which encompasses induction, deduction and abduction and utilises each as the research, rather than the researcher, dictates.

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Mixing Methodologies

Educational Research in the Age of Anthropocene - Advances in Educational Technologies and Instructional Design ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-5317-5.ch005 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 84-109

Author(s):

Jo Denton

Keyword(s):

Educational Research ◽

Research Design ◽

Quantitative Methods ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Empirical Methods ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative ◽

Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽

Sliding Scale ◽

Cyclical Process ◽

Theoretical Standpoint

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Long-term trends in Natufian subsistence: a use-wear analysis of ground stone tools

Journal of Archaeological Science ◽

10.1016/j.jas.2004.04.003 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 31 (11) ◽

pp. 1613-1629 ◽

Cited By ~ 78

Author(s):

Laure Dubreuil

Keyword(s):

Stone Tools ◽

Ground Stone ◽

Wear Analysis ◽

Use Wear ◽

Long Term Trends

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First direct evidence of wild plant grinding process from the Holocene Sahara: Use-wear and plant micro-residue analysis on ground stone tools from the Farafra Oasis, Egypt

Quaternary International ◽

10.1016/j.quaint.2019.07.028 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 555 ◽

pp. 66-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Giulio Lucarini ◽

Anita Radini

Keyword(s):

Direct Evidence ◽

Residue Analysis ◽

Stone Tools ◽

Wild Plant ◽

Grinding Process ◽

The Holocene ◽

Ground Stone ◽

Use Wear

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Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of Surface Alterations of Stone Tools Made of Raw Materials from the Carpathian Basin

Hungarian Archaeology ◽

10.36338/ha.2021.3.4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Antony Borel ◽

Raphaël Deltombe ◽

Julie Marteau ◽

Philippe Moreau ◽

Maxence Bigerelle ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Raw Materials ◽

Stone Tools ◽

Archaeological Sites ◽

Reference Collection ◽

Surface Measurements ◽

Alteration Processes ◽

Quantitative Analyses ◽

Identification And Characterization ◽

Experimental Reference

Wear analysis performed on archaeological stone tools from prehistory aims at characterizing their surface alterations in order to determine their functions and describe past human technical behaviors. However, the reliability and repeatability of the method is questioned and there is a major difficulty facing scientists analyzing wear, which is related to proposing quantified and repeatable analyses and interpretations of taphonomic and anthropogenic (related to manufacture and use) evidence. We propose the creation of an experimental reference collection of surface alterations focused primarily on selected stone types commonly found at Hungarian archaeological sites. This collection will allow the characterization of the topographic signatures of manufacture, use, and taphonomic processes. The qualitative (through observation using optical microscopy) and quantitative (through surface measurements using confocal microscopy) analyses will aim at examining: 1) the variability of surface alterations, 2) protocols that can allow the identification and characterization of surface topographic signatures, and 3) the appropriate metrological setups that will allow for each of the alteration processes to be differentiated. We present here the results of the preliminary experiments, which involved flakes for bone and reed processing made of six different raw materials. It has been confirmed that evidence of use can be identified on each one of them. Beyond the presentation of the first images from the reference collection, we briefly present the future phases of the project.

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