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Mixing qualitative methods: quality assurance or qualitative quagmire?
1Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Hull, UK.
Qualitative Health Research
|November 11, 1999
Summary
Mixing qualitative research methods is complex, not straightforward. Researchers must acknowledge and address differing assumptions between traditions for stronger analytical rigor and methodological awareness.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Qualitative Research Methodology
Background:
- Combining qualitative and quantitative research is debated due to epistemological differences.
- Mixing methods within qualitative research is often considered simpler than mixed-methods research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To challenge the notion that mixing qualitative methods is a straightforward endeavor.
- To highlight the diversity of qualitative traditions and their underlying assumptions.
- To advocate for greater attention to methodological context in qualitative research.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of qualitative research traditions.
- Examination of assumptions regarding research questions, theoretical frameworks, and data handling.
- Discussion of the implications for multimethod qualitative approaches.
Main Results:
- Qualitative research encompasses diverse traditions with distinct epistemological assumptions.
- Combining different qualitative methods can involve navigating potentially contradictory assumptions.
- Multimethod qualitative research represents a contested domain requiring careful consideration.
Conclusions:
- Mixing qualitative methods is not inherently simple and requires critical engagement with underlying assumptions.
- Researchers must be aware of the specific assumptions of each qualitative tradition employed.
- Acknowledging and addressing methodological context enhances analytical rigor in qualitative research.