[Interview]: Get to know Lazar

[Lazar]

Hi Lazar,

rugby union? rugby league? afl? or dont care?

Also, nice to learn a bit about you. I know its not your disipline, but are you familiar with or even met Murray Logan? He is a biologist at Monsah and wrote the Biology package for R. Just curious!

I like all football codes though I lean toward league.

p.s. dont know Murry Logan.

[Lazar]

Any view on evolutionary psychology?

I have mixed feelings (I am currently reading Evolution in Four Dimensions). Obviously we are the products of evolution but current Evolutionary Psychology (note the capitals) leaves a lot to be desired. This is a good article http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...6466130500104X. Jerry Coyne's "Why Evolution is True" has a good section at the end.

[derksheng]

Evolution in Four Dimensions

I'm thinking of buying this ... Is the content a bit crack-potty or is there good science behind the book's material?

[Lazar]

I'm not really sure. I have only read the first few chapters and it seems a little over blown.

[Lazar]

By the way, what does Lazar mean? Is it a person name> or comes from laser for example?

I have been on forums and moderating forums for many years and Lazar has always been the name I use. I believe my wife got it from a book but I cannot remeber which one.

[Dragan]

Lazar: There has been (obviously) an increase in the use of qualitative research methods over the past – say – 15 years. In view of this, I would ask you; Is this rise in qualitative research methods attributed to traditional quantitative research methods (e.g. ANOVA , Regression, Factor Analysis, PCA) not being able to answer the questions that social scientists ask, or, is it that students/researchers (in the social sciences) do not understand – and/or cannot correctly perform – the statistical (i.e. quantitative) procedures?

[Lazar]

Lazar: There has been (obviously) an increase in the use of qualitative research methods over the past – say – 15 years. In view of this, I would ask you; Is this rise in qualitative research methods attributed to traditional quantitative research methods (e.g. ANOVA , Regression, Factor Analysis, PCA) not being able to answer the questions that social scientists ask, or, is it that students/researchers (in the social sciences) do not understand – and/or cannot correctly perform – the statistical (i.e. quantitative) procedures?

I dont really know, most likely a question for tr moreso than me. I think qual folks would argue that quant is bad at getting at the meaning that occurs with a particular context.

Note. I am very very bad at qual research which may colour my view.