Revisiting the Quantitative-Qualitative Debate: Implications for Mixed-Methods Research

This paper revisits the quantitative-qualitative debate and reviews the arguments for and against using mixed-methods, and discusses the implications stemming from the view, that the paradigms upon which the methods are based have a different view of reality and therefore adifferent view of the phenomenon under study.

Abstract

Health care research includes many studies that combine quantitative and qualitative methods. In this paper, we revisit the quantitative-qualitative debate and review the arguments for and against using mixed-methods. In addition, we discuss the implications stemming from our view, that the paradigms upon which the methods are based have a different view of reality and therefore a different view of the phenomenon under study. Because the two paradigms do not study the same phenomena, quantitative and qualitative methods cannot be combined for cross-validation or triangulation purposes. However, they can be combined for complementary purposes. Future standards for mixed-methods research should clearly reflect this recommendation.