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Possible Ways to Blend Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods

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Research methods gradually evolving in recognition of inadequacies in current methods ... 20th century - phenomenology; qualitative research. Two paradigms ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Possible Ways to Blend Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods


1
Possible Ways to Blend Qualitative and
Quantitative Research Methods
  • Ian McDowell
  • Seminar Presentation
  • 1997

2
Overview of Talk
  • Research methods gradually evolving in
    recognition of inadequacies in current methods
  • Two paradigms positivist / quantitative vs.
    subjectivist / postmodern
  • There are strengths in each
  • Types of blend of the two, in
  • study design
  • data collection
  • analysis
  • comunicating results

3
Styles of Thought(how do we know that we know
what we think we know?)
  • Many dualisms throughout history of thought
  • Quantitative vs. qualitative
  • Deductive vs. inductive
  • Right brain and left
  • Yin and Yang
  • Apollonian and Dionysiac
  • Male and female
  • Reductionist vs. systems thinking

4
Changing philosophies of knowledge
  • 17th 18th centuries order, logic and science,
    world seen through senses. Mechanical world.
    Realism and logical positivism
  • 19th century - social revolution can we analyze
    behaviour logically? Idealism the human mind as
    source of knowledge people, not logic, crucial
    in explaining reality
  • 20th century - phenomenology qualitative research

5
Two paradigms
  • Challenge biological variability should we
    focus on the general or the specific?
  • General public health epidemiology deduction.
    Nomothetic
  • Specific clinical medicine psychology
    induction. Idiographic

6
Quantitative approach
  • Describes and imposes external structure on data
  • Gives parsimonious summary of results
    reductionist (for example, shared variance is
    attributed to one variable hence it is
    reductionistic)
  • Seeks to isolate systems from their enviornment
    and to generalize
  • Efficient, but incomplete view of
    interconnectedness of reality
  • Asks the How? question
  • Externally valid

7
Qualitative approach
  • Interprets, explains generates concepts
  • Seeks to be open, flexible
  • The investigator is the instrument art versus
    science
  • Sampling becomes a crucial issue (in data
    collection and in analysis)
  • Somewhat magical approach to analysis
  • Asks the Why? question
  • Particularizes internally valid

8
Blending Qualitative and Quantitative
  • Metaphor of binocular vision
  • Seeks to array strengths of one against
    limitations of the other
  • Nature of the balance may depend on stage of
    study qualitative in a process evaluation,
    quantitative in outcome study, for example

9
Five blends
  • Hierarchical model one method takes the lead
  • qualitative leads
  • quantitative leads
  • Partnership model equal but contrasting
    contributions
  • sequential
  • cyclical
  • simultaneous application (triangulation)

10
Applying these Types of Blend
  • In different stages of research
  • Conceptualizing the study
  • Collecting data
  • Analysing data
  • Interpreting the data

11
Stage 1 Conceptualizing the Study
  • Hierarchical model, quantitative leading, in
    hard studies
  • Hierarchical model, qualitative leading, in
    soft topics
  • Partnership model applicable in mixed studies or
    in broad programme of research that involves
    sequence of individual studies
  • Sequential partnership in formulating study
    qualitative leads into quantitative

12
Stage 2 Collecting the Data
  • Goal of blending approaches is to compensate for
    limitations in each approach
  • Hierarchical model illustrated by data
    supplementation (e.g., qualitative interviews
    highlight responses to a standardised
    questionnaire)
  • Partnership sequential model illustrated in
    qualitative work to develop questionnaires

13
Stage 3 Data analysis
  • Generally hierarchical determined by design of
    study. Orientation of funding agencies often
    makes it hard to achieve a true balance
    (disciplinary racism)
  • Hierarchical, quantitative leading illustrated
    by analyses of outliers
  • Hierarchical, qualitative leading case studies
    are followed by secondary analysis fo
    quantitative data (e.g. a survey) to estimate
    representativeness of insights gained from the
    case study
  • Iterative analyses in partnership model, but this
    will probably be criticized from both camps.

14
4 Interpretation Dissemination
  • Hierarchical, quantitative leading
  • Use case histories or quotations to illustrate
    quantitative results
  • Use qualitative results to comment on exceptions
    to the rule
  • Hierarchical, qualitative leading use
    quantitative results to validate what people
    suspected all along

15
Future Directions
  • Theres increasing awareness in funding agencies
    of the importance of qualitative research. Its
    a start, but.
  • However, the paradigms are sufficiently different
    that its very hard to blend them attempts
    rapidly lead to criticism that you are perverting
    the tenets of each approach
  • Disciplinary purity seems remarkably important to
    academics a fundamental part of personal
    identity so conflicts will be common
  • A successful blend will be truly
    transdisciplinary
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