Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods

Qualitative and quantitative research methods have been combined for years to provide the most complete view possible in studies. It was first suggested in 1959, then called “triangulation”, as a way to ensure the results of a study were actually because of the variables, not just a result of the methodology used (Jick, 1979, pg. 602).  This could be done by using different kinds of qualitative or quantitative methods, but by crossing over from one approach to the other and still getting the same results makes those results much more credible than if similar methods were used.  The wider spread of combining qualitative and quantitative methods also allows the same question to be approached from different angles which gives a wider view of the entire issue and a better-informed result (Jick, 1979, pg. 604).  A study on management could use the same basic question about the effectiveness of leadership but approach it from both the quantitative direction of employees’ work statistics, but also from the qualitative angle of employee appreciation to provide an answer that addresses both effectiveness and quality of leadership.

Combining methodologies can also help a study express its results in a more meaningful way.  Qualitative research was considered unreliable for a long time because of its lack of clear or easily defined standards (Howe and Eisenhart, 1990, pg. 2).  Quantitative research, on the other hand, is limited by its clear standards because only so much meaning can be taken from numbers. Often times, data is saturated. Quantitative methods work very well for hard sciences, but at some point, any research question has to be applied to people to be worth pursuing.  As soon as that human element comes in, a qualitative approach is almost required to translate hard facts into results that matter. A responsible qualitative methodology can be supported by hard quantitative results while still benefitting from the more meaningful and focused qualitative methods that are better at making a human connection between a research question and its results.

References

Howe, K., & Eisenhart, M. (1990). Standards for qualitative (and quantitative) research: A prolegomenon. Educational Researcher, 19(4), 2-9. Retrieved March 14, 2013, from http://www.colorado.edu/education/faculty/kennethhowe/Docs/Howe_Eisenhart_Stds_in_Qual_Quant_Research.pdf 

Jick, T. D. (1979). Mixing qualitative and quantitative methods: Triangulation in action. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24(4), 602-611. Retrieved March 14, 2013, from the JSTOR database.