The complementarity of qualitative and quantitative research methods IN5000, April 25, 2019 Asbjørn Følstad, SINTEF

Content Quick quiz: What will be the format of this lecture? Lecturing. Group discussions and presentations. None of the above. Content Research process Qualitative methods Quantitative methods The complementarity of qualitaive and quantitative methods Bonus tracks: Own studies as examples

Research process The research process is the steps the researcher goes through to develop new knowledge – for example in the form of a master thesis.

Research process Group discussion: Describe the main steps of the research process. Present. Title Knowledge gap Method Motivation Research question

Research process During the research process, the research method is decided. Choice of reseach method depends in part of the characteristics of existing background (the wall the community of researchers are building) and your intended contribution (your golden stone to the wall).

Qualitative methods Purposes Approaches and data collection methods Data characteristics Analysis techniques A plenary deviation from plan

Qualitative methods Purposes Approaches and data collection methods Data characteristics Analysis techniques Investigate contextualized entities – an organization, a subculture, an indivdual Develop conceptual frameworks and theory Understand how and why

Qualitative methods Group discussion: Suggest a dream qualitative study. Title, motivation, knowledge gap, research question, method. Present. Title Knowledge gap Method Motivation Research question

Quantitative methods Purposes Approaches and data collection methods Data characteristics Analysis techniques Another plenary deviation from plan

Quantitative methods Purposes Approaches and data collection methods Data characteristics Analysis techniques Map / characterize populations Investigate correlations Study causality

Quantitative methods Group discussion: Suggest a dream quantitative study. Title, motivation, knowledge gap, research question, method. Present. Title Knowledge gap Method Motivation Research question

The complementarity of qualitative and quantitative methods Qualitative -> Quantitative Quantitative -> Qualitative Parallell application Other? A final plenary deviation from plan

Mixed methods Group discussion: Suggest a dream mixed methods study. Title, motivation, knowledge gap, research question, method. Present. Title Knowledge gap Method Motivation Research question