ABSTRACT

A mixed methods approach to social science research is rooted in pragmatism and is based upon the assumption that in well-designed research projects both qualitative and quantitative methodologies can be used, and can work well, together. A second assumption is that mixing different types of methods and interrelating qualitative and quantitative data can strengthen a study. For the mixed methods researcher research projects that rely on one method of data collection can at times provide only an incomplete understanding of the issues raised by the respondents and further explanation is necessary. A second database that makes use of a distinctly different method of data collection can help to explain issues raised by the initial data collection. Quantitative results are often presented in the form of statistics that do not speak for themselves and require a much fuller explanation as to why people responded in the way that they did.