Plan: How to choose methods and theme

Quantitative Research

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  Uses a deductive approach
  
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  Is used to test theories
  
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  Takes an objective approach
  
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  Adopts a closed, highly planned approach
  
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  The research is disconnected from respondents
  
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  Surveys or laboratory equipment are often used to collect number-based data.
  
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  Generally, requires large sample sizes
  
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  Uses statistical analysis techniques to make sense of the data
  

Mixed methods-based research, as you’d expect, attempts to bring these two types of research together, drawing on both qualitative and quantitative data. Quite often, mixed methods-based studies will use qualitative research to explore a situation and develop a potential model of understanding (this is called a conceptual framework), and then go on to use quantitative methods to test that model empirically.
In other words, while qualitative and quantitative methods (and the philosophies that underpin them) are completely different, they are not at odds with each other. It’s not a competition of qualitative vs quantitative. On the contrary, they can be used together to develop a high-quality piece of research. Of course, this is easier said than done, so we usually recommend that first-time researchers stick to a single approach, unless the nature of their study truly warrants a mixed-methods approach.
The key takeaway here, and the reason we started by looking at the three options, is that it’s important to understand that each methodological approach has a different purpose – for example, to explore and understand situations (qualitative), to test and measure (quantitative) or to do both. They’re not simply alternative tools for the same job. 
Right – now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s look at how you can go about choosing the right methodology for your research.