There seems to be some controversy over to what extent and how to use numbers in qualitative research, particularly when writing up your results. We see different practices regarding this issue. What is the place of numbers in reporting qualitative research and what specific purposes does the use of numbers serve for? Could you also suggest some resources that discuss this issue extensively?
Dear Arif,
Although conveniently research is divided into qualitative and quantitative, the one in between - which is actually the one that is more advisable in research - is to use a combination of qualitative-cum-quantitative. The reason this type is more the practice nowadays is that since qualitative research targets theory development and defense, quantitative data serve the purpose of providing evidence for this theory-bound qualitative part. So, I don't think there is any controversy in using numbers in qualitative research, nor is there any particular range of the quantitative data to be used in backing up qualitative statements. This is what we teach our students: The more quantitative data for qualitative statements, the better.
The following sources should also be helpful, particularly their comments/views (pros and cons), and the recommendations on using numbers in qualitative research (see: Sandelowski, 2001; Maxwell, 2010; Neale et al, 2014).
- Maxwell, J. A. (2010) Using Numbers in Qualitative Research, Qualitative Inquiry, 16, 6, pp. 475-482.
- Neale, J., Miller, P. and West, R. (2014) Editorial: Reporting quantitative information in qualitative research: guidance for authors and reviewers, Addiction, 109, 2, pp. 175-176.
- Sandelowski, M. (2001) Real qualitative researchers do not count: the use of numbers in qualitative research, Research in nursing and health, 24, 3, pp. 230-240.
- Does number or count make sense in qualitative research?: https://www.researchgate.net/post/Does_number_or_count_make_sense_in_qualitative_research
The best approach is to work with both qualitative and quantitative methods. If your focus is on qualitative method, you should make sure to use quantitative methods in describing the group with which you are working. This could consist of demographics which would generally be numbers but it could also mean doing some statistical analysis.
Hi Arif,
Your question is indeed very important one.
1) What is the place of numbers in reporting qualitative research? and what specific purposes does the use of numbers serve for?
When numerical data are used in a qualitative research, we seek to understand how these numbers help us find, confirm, adjust or alter patterns/themes emerging from qualitative analyses; rather than proving the relationship among different variables. Numbers are treated as items/pieces of qualitative data attached to groups/individuals, contexts, processes, rather than characteristics of variables. In other words, we use the qualitative side of numbers.
Maxwell (2010: 478-479) provides an useful four benefits of that numerical data in qualitative research:
- (i) facilitate internal generalisability (generalisation within settings)
- (ii) identify and characterise the diversity of actions, perceptions, or beliefs in the settings or group studied;
- (iii) identify patterns;
- (iv) provide evidence for your interpretation.
2) Could you also suggest some resources that discuss this issue extensively? M Sandelowski (2001), Real qualitative researchers do not count: the use of numbers in qualitative research Maxwell (2010) Using numbers in qualitative research N Golafshani (2003) Understanding reliability and validity in qualitative research Hope it helps. Best,
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