This brief essay describes alternative strategies for designing research methodologies for a report or academic dissertation. Researchers often elect to use what are called mixed methodologies when considering various phenomena. Johnson and Onwuegbuzie (17) suggest that the mixed methods research paradigm provides far greater insight into particular issues than either qualitative or quantitative research alone. This is because the combination of both approaches captures greater sensitivity of data, integrates theory with empirical studies, and allows the researcher to thoroughly assess what is already known about the issue under examination and to then extend this knowledge by means of a qualitative research effort.
Qualitative research as described by Babbie (70) and Bailey (120-122) is exploratory rather than explanatory in nature. It is based on literature, observations, theory, and case analyses. It may generate new data by reinterpreting previously generated data sets but for the most part, qualitative research is narrative rather than statistical. As a means of exploring a phenomenon, qualitative research is an excellent strategy for determining "where we are" and "how we got here."
Quantitative research, in contrast, does have the intent of explaining a phenomenon and not merely exploring it (Babbie 12). Quantitative research is empirical in that it consists of strategies and methods for gathering new data, testing hypotheses, applying descriptive and inferential statistics, and creating conclusions regarding relationships among variables.
Quantitative research includes but is not limited to surveys, experiments, longitudinal studies, meta-analyses, and so forth (Babbie 110). However, as Johnson and Onwuegbuzie (18) have noted, purists who have traditionally insisted on using either qualitative or quantitative research paradigms are now being challenged by those who call for mixed methods research whi...