Discussion: Combining Methodologies
Discussion: Combining Methodologies
Discussion: Combining Methodologies
Week 2 discussion DQ 1 What are the key differences between quantitative and qualitative research? Why would you choose to develop a research project that is quantitative instead of qualitative, or vice versa? What are some considerations to be made when deciding between quantitative and qualitative research? DQ 2 What are some of the challenges involved in combining methodologies when creating a research proposal and carrying out a research project? How can these challenges be overcome?
Mixed methods research is a methodology for conducting research that involves collecting, analyzing and integrating quantitative and qualitative research.
By mixing both quantitative and qualitative research and data, the researcher gains in breadth and depth of understanding and corroboration, while offsetting the weaknesses inherent to using each approach by itself.
DISADVANTAGES and LIMITATIONS
Mixed method research has some disadvantages and limitations:
- The research design can be very complex.
- It takes much more time and resources to plan and implement this type of research. This is a time consuming activity
- Planning and implementing one method by drawing on the findings of another method always prove to be difficult.
- Resolving discrepancies that arise in the interpretation of the findings may often prove to be unclear and again, time consuming.
Note:
Whatever approach you want to implement, when deciding what type of methods design to use, you have to take into account and consider the overall purpose of the research.
