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While Heisenberg is not looking: the strength of ‘weak measurements’ in educational research

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Abstract

The concept of ‘weak measurements’ in quantum physics is a way of ‘cheating’ the Uncertainty Principle. Heisenberg stated (and 85 years of experiments have demonstrated) that it is impossible to know both the position and momentum of a particle with arbitrary precision. More precise measurements of one decrease the precision with which the other can be measured. By ‘sneaking a peak’ at one variable however—conducting a ‘weak measurement’ that does not fully collapse the quantum wavefunction—and combining this with a subsequent strong measurement of the other variable, increased information of better quality can be gathered. By analogy, theories and methodological approaches could conceivably be combined in research in such a way that one does not ‘force [the other] into blindness’ (Bauersfeld 1988). This paper offers a theoretical and metaphorical introduction to an approach. The criteria for judging its value are empirical: does it work? Does it allow research work to be done and conceptualised in ways that are valuable? That evidence will be forthcoming as this approach is adopted and tested.

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  1. School of Education and Professional Studies, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia

    David R. Geelan

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  1. David R. Geelan
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Correspondence to David R. Geelan.

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Geelan, D.R. While Heisenberg is not looking: the strength of ‘weak measurements’ in educational research. Aust. Educ. Res. 42, 395–404 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-015-0169-0

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