While Heisenberg is not Looking: The Strength of ‘Weak Measurements’ in Educational Research

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.