Fuzzy approach - a new chapter in the methodology of psychology?

This paper aims to briefly introduce the main idea behind the fuzzy approach and to identify the areas and problems encountered in the humanities that might profit from using this approach. Based on a short overview of selected applications of fuzzy in psychology we identify key areas in which the fuzzy approach has already been applied, and propose a list of general types of problems that the fuzzy approach may provide solutions for in psychology and the humanities in general. These types of problems are illustrated using practical examples. The benefits and possible shortcomings of using the fuzzy approach compared to classical approaches in use today are discussed.The goal of this paper is to indicate areas in research and practice in the humanities, where modern mathematical tools—in this case linguistic fuzzy modeling—have already been used or might prove promising.

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