Fuzzy Method in Research: A Bridge between Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods
Subject Areas : Psychological Models and Methods
Keywords: fuzzy logic, Two – Valued Logic, Linguistic Variables, Quantitative Method, Qualitative method,
Abstract :
“Fuzzy logic” is a multi-value logic rooted in Plato and eastern philosophy. An Iranian scientist, professor of Berkley University, “Professor Lotfali Asgarzade” (1965) called professor “L.A zadeh” raised fuzzy logic for the first time. Despite Aristotle two – valued logic finding yes or no response to generalize to all phenomena (e.g. positivism), fuzzy logic introduces the world as it is. Fuzzy logic is close to nature of human being and it is similar to eastern philosophy and religions. Despite great benefits of fuzzy logic (due to the important role of math in it), the major problem of math logic is that it doesn’t produce intellectual models of human being as intellectual models of people are mostly intuitional and math cannot perceive its complexities. In fuzzy method, both quantitative and qualitative approaches exist together and this method is a bridge between qualitative and quantitative method.