Mixing Quantitative and Qualitative Research

Handbook of Innovative Qualitative Research Methods: Pathways to Cool Ideas and Interesting Papers, Kimberly Elsbach and Roderick Kramer, eds. 2014

Rotman School of Management Working Paper No. 2508705

19 Pages Posted: 13 Oct 2014

See all articles by Sarah Kaplan

Sarah Kaplan

University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management

Date Written: October 1, 2014

Abstract

This chapter offers several models of ways that scholars can usefully integrate qualitative and quantitative research in both single works and broader research programs: using qualitative methods to identify constructs or hypotheses that can subsequently be examined in quantitative studies; using quantitative studies to identify patterns that can be explored in qualitative work; and, quantification of qualitative data. Through this analysis, I call into question existing characterizations of the relationships among the two types of research and offer a more nuanced portrayal of the links between them. I suggest that the advantage of mixed methods studies is that they recognize the value of iterating between that which can be counted and that which cannot in order to generate richer insights about the phenomena of interest.

Keywords: qualitative research; mixed methods; ethnography; interview studies; surveys

JEL Classification: Z00; B40

Suggested Citation

Kaplan, Sarah, Mixing Quantitative and Qualitative Research (October 1, 2014). Handbook of Innovative Qualitative Research Methods: Pathways to Cool Ideas and Interesting Papers, Kimberly Elsbach and Roderick Kramer, eds. 2014, Rotman School of Management Working Paper No. 2508705, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2508705

Sarah Kaplan (Contact Author)

University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management ( email )

105 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E6 M5S1S4
Canada

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