Combining qualitative and quantitative data is an approach that leverages the strengths of both methodologies to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a research problem. This method, often referred to as mixed methods, is particularly useful for addressing complex questions.
Key Benefits:
- Holistic Insights: By integrating numerical data (quantitative) and narrative insights (qualitative), researchers can gain a fuller picture. For example, while quantitative data may reveal trends, qualitative data explains the reasons behind those trends.
- Enhanced Credibility: Mixing methods can increase the validity of research findings. The corroboration of data from both approaches, known as triangulation, helps to cross-check and confirm results.
- Addressing Different Research Questions: Quantitative data is ideal for measuring and comparing, while qualitative data is better suited for understanding behaviors, motivations, and experiences. Together, they address both ‘what’ and ‘why’ questions.
Approaches to Combining Data:
- Sequential: One method follows the other, either using qualitative findings to develop quantitative tools or vice versa.
- Concurrent: Both types of data are collected simultaneously, allowing for real-time integration of insights.
- Transformative: One form of data transforms the other, such as converting qualitative data into quantitative codes.
Incorporating both data types results in richer, more nuanced research, making it an increasingly popular approach across various fields, including social sciences, health, and education.
List of recommended resources #
For a broad overview #
Combine qualitative and quantitative data
This article by EvalCommunity gives a broad overview of how qualitative and quantitative data can be combined in research. The article talks about different ways of triangulating data as well as complementary methods in combining qualitative and quantitative data.
What are the different ways to combine qualitative with quantitative research??
This video tutorial on YouTube explains the various ways to combine qualitative and quantitative data in research, providing advantages and disadvantages of each.
For in depth understanding #
This book by Abbas Tashakkori, R. Burke Johnson and Charles Teddlie gives a comprehensive overview of mixed methods from philosophical roots and traditions through designing, conducting, and disseminating a study. This text begins with an introduction to and overview of the development of mixed methodology, and then takes students through all aspects of working with mixed methods, from research design and data collection through to analysis and conclusions.
This paper by David L. Driscoll assesses the utility of mixed methods designs that integrate qualitative and quantitative data through a transformative process. Two strategies for collecting qualitative and quantitative datasets are described, and processes by which they can be merged are presented in detail.
Case study #
This paper by Timothy C Guetterman, Michael D Fetters and John W Creswell explores the use of visual joint displays that bring qualitative and quantitative data together visually to draw out new insights.
This paper by Jane Noyes, Andrew Booth, Graham Moore, Kate Flemming, Özge Tunçalp, and Elham Shakibazadeh aims to clarify the different purposes, review designs, questions, synthesis methods and opportunities to combine quantitative and qualitative evidence to explore the complexity of complex interventions and health systems.
References #
Qualitative Quantitative Mixed Methods
Quantitative and qualitative data
