Reflecting on Mixed Methods Research

Research Methods
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Research is one of the most fundamental aspects in education and even the economy. Research builds on the available knowledge to bring to light other dimensions of assessing or simply exploring untapped elements in nature (Lund, 2012). The main research methods fall into the two main categories which are the qualitative and quantitative methods. In the case of quantitative research, this is a method that seeks to solve a problem in a manner that generates numerical data, which is then transformed into statistics that are usable (Thamhain, 2014). Qualitative research on the other hand is set to establish trends in opinions and thoughts in relation to a problem statement.
Although the two methods have their advantages and elements that make them useful in certain scenarios more than others, they can also be used in a manner that they complement one another. This means that their advantages can be used in a single research to enhance the results and the outcome of the study. Most importantly, the researcher has to decide which parts of either method best works for the results that are targeted (Penman-Aguilar, Macaluso, Peacock, Snead & Posner, 2014). As such the complements are dynamic and subject to the research in question as well as the researcher, their goals, objectives and the level of their skills.
It is not viable to consider only one method to work with; sometimes researchers have to bring out certain elements of their study that would only be delivered by using the two methods. In a case where a quantitative research or study has been carried out, the follow up of the same may have to apply the qualitative research methods (Spillman, 2014). This may help understand what the research figures actually mean. Sometimes research has to apply both methods at the same time to establish a certain element of the topic under study and how best to solve the problems. This means that, if a questionnaire is used, it will incorpor...