Qualitative Research Methods Crucial to Complex Nuclear and Radiological Problem Solving

Nuclear and radiological incidents of theft or diversion are highly consequential and present to the researcher, analyst or engineer challenges that call most urgently for critical thinking skills. Critical thinking is an intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication. There is a tendency to favor quantitative methods over qualitative methods for analysis of vulnerability to these critical materials. These vulnerability analyses are then used for mitigation plans. The authors argue that the preference of quantitative research methods over qualitative is counter to the principles of critical thinking skills and leaves out rich sources of information and knowledge, that could lead to more wise choices for mitigation efforts. In this paper, the authors will provide a definition and concise history of critical thinking principles. From this foundation, the reasons for a preference of quantitative over qualitative research methods will be discussed. An argument for the value of qualitative methods will be made that shows that much of what appears to be quantitative has its origin in qualitative methods. Finally, the authors will present a structured methodology for socio-technical systems analysis that considers all systems relevant to the protection and accountability of nuclear and radiological materials that makes full use of both quantitative and qualitative research methods and sources of data.