Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods

Start with the main approaches

The Qualitative and Quantitative Research mind map offers a starting point for comparing the approaches. Its qualitative section considers participants’ thoughts and feelings about aspects of their lives or experiences. Follow it with Introduction to quantitative research, which introduces quantitative research alongside the distinction between quantitative and qualitative methods.

For another way to study the distinction, the Research Methods mind map includes definitions and methods. It describes quantitative research in terms of collecting numerical data and analyzing it using mathematically based methods. Compare what each map emphasizes as you study.

Explore mixed methods

The Mixed Methods mind maps give you a way to move from the separate approaches to their use together. One describes combining research methods from qualitative and quantitative approaches within a single study. Another introduces triangulation, including data, investigator, theory and methods triangulation.

The Methodology map also groups examples under quantitative methods, qualitative methods and both methods. Use these maps alongside your earlier comparison to see how the page presents the relationship between approaches.

Practice with questions

Once you have studied the maps, try Qualitative Quiz. Its questions cover research paradigms, their assumptions and quantitative methods. You can return to the maps as you work through the questions and use them to organize the ideas you want to study again.

The qualitative research flashcard deck near the top of the page asks when qualitative methods are appropriate and about conceptual differences between approaches. Use its questions for another pass through the material.

Place the topic in the unit

Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods is a section of Introduction to Research Methods in Research methods and academic skills. The resources give you several formats for studying this part of the unit, from visual maps to questions. Choose a map and a set of questions to use together.