Dear Ra'ed,

It depends on what type of qualitative study are you referring to. In my humble opinion all qualitative studies cannot lead to quantitative studies. It is because of the philosophical foundations of the two studies. Both types of methodologies derive their premise from diametrically opposite ontological and epistemological claims, and their for cannot be carried out in the same tradition. 

But where qualitative can lead to quantitative, it is quite simple we take qualitative prepositions as theory and use quantitative methods to test to theories, which quantitative methodology is primarily meant for.

Kind Regards,

Usman 

I think that qualitative research should be leading in defining the issue, writing down and forming the problem with the proper parameters, invent the theorems and hypotheses and prove them, characterizing the solution, and applying this solution properly.

In qualitative research, the problem first is identified, then the population and sample are selected. After that the propositions are generated and hypotheses are refined.

The process also include collecting data, analysing them, and then the hypotheses are tested.



In natural sciences and social sciences such as sociology, economics, anthropology, psychology and others, quantitative research is the systematic empirical investigation of observable phenomena via statistical, mathematical or numerical data or computational techniques. So that classical statistics is appropriate for this kind of data.

On the other hand Qualitative data are obtained by perception, describing instead of measuring. Thus the problem is how to identify phenomena through how they are perceived by the actors in a situation. In the human sphere this normally translates into gathering ‘deep’ information and perceptions through inductive, qualitative methods

such as interviews, discussions and participant observation, and representing it from the perspective

of the research participant(s). Phenomenology is concerned with the study of experience from the

perspective of the individual, ‘bracketing’ taken-for-granted assumptions and usual ways of

perceiving. Epistemologically, phenomenological approaches are based in a paradigm of personal

knowledge and subjectivity, and emphasise the importance of personal perspective and interpretation.

As such they are powerful for understanding subjective experience, gaining insights into people’s

motivations and actions, and cutting through the clutter of taken-for-granted assumptions and

conventional wisdom.

Pure phenomenological research seeks essentially to describe rather than explain, and to start from a perspective free from hypotheses or preconceptions (Husserl).

to solve problems in practice we need situated theories (S theories) that provide testable explanations about how a recurrent problem might be solved in context. The goal of S theory is to solve problems, while the goal of U theory is to provide universal explanations. Both types of action theories are needed and should work in tandem in the social sciences. While theory building is not the primary intent of research conducted in partnerships, it is an integral part of the process.

https://styluspub.presswarehouse.com/resrcs/chapters/157922735X_otherchap.pdf

A hypothesis is a prediction about the relationship between two or more variables. A hypothesis thus translates a quantitative research question into a precise prediction of expected outcomes. In qualitative studies, researchers do not begin with a hypothesis, in part because there is usually too little known about the topic to justify a hypothesis, and in part because qualitative researchers want the inquiry to be guided by participants’ viewpoints rather than by their own. Thus, this discussion focuses on hypotheses used to guide quantitative inquiries (some of which are generated within qualitative studies). Very good resource follows!

http://intranet.tdmu.edu.ua/data/kafedra/internal/socmedic/classes_stud/en/nurse/bsn%20(4%20year%20program)/Nursing%20Research/4/03.%20Problem%20and%20purpose%20statements.%20research%20questions%20and%20hypotheses.htm

I forgot to attached a related paper on phenomenological reasearch.

Another informative paper:

Dear Roland,

We should not forget that experimental science is inductive!

Hi Ra'ed,

Your question depicting a mixed methods research design called Exploratory Sequential Design i.e. performing a qualitative research then follows by a quantitative research.

Many researchers use this design whereby during the qualitative phase:1) there is no guiding framework, 2) constructs are unknown before, 3) researcher doesn't know what constructs are important for studying, 4) relevant quantitative instruments are not available.  Hence, at the end of their qualitative research they generate some propositions i.e. possible connections / relationships among different concepts but no empirical proof. 

In order to establish the empirical relationships among the concepts / constructs, the researchers will base on the propositions to narrow down into specific hypotheses which are testable, measurable and falsifiable.  This is the quantitative phase of the research.

For an example after conducting a qualitative research, team aspect which consists of various themes e.g. team trust, team cohesion, team satisfaction being surfaced to show possible connection with project performance.  The abovementioned can be propositions whereby merely pure concepts without any empirical test supported.  In order to empirically test these possible connections and generalize them into the entire population, the researcher can produce specific hypotheses e.g. team trust can positively influence project performance etc.

Regards,

Fung

Qualitative research is fast gaining pace in many development issues. The use of primary data has been found of great importance in policy formulation and solving some economic issues. Some econometrics methods like logit allows the author to quantify his/her findings through the marginal effects function (commonly known as the mfx). Such quantifying will enable or equate to the use of secondary data. Hence quantitative empirical testing is enabled from qualitative data gathering.

http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2412639