ABSTRACT
This chapter helps people to: understand that qualitative research can contribute insights into the findings of quantitative research; see that qualitative and quantitative research can help support one another; learn what qualitative research can contribute to the design and conduct of quantitative research; observe that qualitative research also has great value on its own. One major goal of qualitative research is to become more knowledgeable about the particular area of study in which people are interested. Quantitative research, in contrast, often begins with research questions and hypotheses, based primarily on a literature search, with little direct information and background into the topic at hand. Greater depth is especially important and is a unique contribution of qualitative research. In addition to depth, qualitative research can add insights. Combining research methods may result in a kind of research synergy that produces more and more detailed results than if they were not combined.
