Many of the researchers in mixed methods reject the "philosophy of knowledge" paradigm that research (and especially research methods) must be categorized in terms of ontological and epistemological assumptions. Instead, there is a preference to adopt pragmatism as a philosophical paradigm for mixed methods.

Given that there are literally thousands of empirical articles that successfully use mixed methods to combine qualitative and quantitative research, it is time that we got past the idea that there is some theory somewhere that makes this kind of research impossible.

Article Paradigms Lost and Pragmatism Regained: Methodological Impli...

Article Pragmatism as a Paradigm for Social Research

Dear researcher

Relativists assume that it is difficult to access reality directly, therefore, they use triangulation of methods and survey viewpoints and experiences of large samples of individuals (see: Easterby- Smith et al., 2002). Therefore, this can expand the understanding of the research context and enable triangulation via data sources (see: Hakim, 2000).

Easterby-Smith, Mark, Thorpe, Richard and Lowe, Andy (2002) Management

Research: An Introduction. (2nd ed.) London: Sage Publications.

Hakim, Catherine (2000) Research Design: Successful Designs for Social and

Economic Research. (2nd ed.) London: Routledge.

Good luck with your research

Thank you for the input. I also understand the rationale in qualitative methods, but in principle different qualitative philosophies are like heaven and earth quantitatively. Thus, it is difficult to combine as a mixed method. I will study the direction of the submitted writing. Thankyou @Mohammad Hani Al-Kilani

Dear August Ernst,

there is a growing tendency of mixing qualitative and quantitative techniques in research. Now we have a dedicated journal about it: http://journals.sagepub.com/home/mmr. Maybe you could find some ideas there...

Good luck.

Dear August Ernst Pattiselanno, 

You can find good papers in this book.: Creswell, J. W., Plano Clark, V. L., Gutmann, M. L., & Hanson, W. E. (2003). Advanced mixed methods research designs. 

Dear August,

I do agree with you. That is why in social sciences, relativism is an ontological and epistemological position that comes between positivism and social constructionism (see: Easterby-Smith et al., 2002).

Best wishes

Many of the researchers in mixed methods reject the "philosophy of knowledge" paradigm that research (and especially research methods) must be categorized in terms of ontological and epistemological assumptions. Instead, there is a preference to adopt pragmatism as a philosophical paradigm for mixed methods.

Given that there are literally thousands of empirical articles that successfully use mixed methods to combine qualitative and quantitative research, it is time that we got past the idea that there is some theory somewhere that makes this kind of research impossible.

Article Paradigms Lost and Pragmatism Regained: Methodological Impli...

Article Pragmatism as a Paradigm for Social Research

I think the problem is not combining, mixing, merging etc. but the dichotomy itself. They should not have been separated in the first place!

Hi to all.

Ithink each method emerges different information of the same reality. Therefore, the combination let researchers find a more complete picture of the studied situation.

Hi all,

Good responses - but I particularly note David's comment that 'pragmatism' is a core feature of mixed methods research. It's not just simply a case of conducting two seperate studies and/or collecting two sets of data and 'sticking them together'. That never works - and is not mixed methods. I also fully agree that we should be well and truely over the issue of 'paradigm tension' between qualitative and quantitative approaches - and mixed methods is one good way to resolve this 'pointless' debate. 

I also pick up on Florentina's comment that there can be no 'separation' in mixed methods. A core feature is triangulation. 

The attached chapter should assist around issues such as resolving the 'paradigm tension' and triangulation etc. 

Thanx all

I totally concur with David Morgan. Use whatever tools are available and that can answer your question. Don't worry too much about mixing philosophies! 

Mix away!

In practice, quantitative approaches might not work without combining qualitative ones: for example, Thomas Kuhn (2002) claims that quantitative studies typically require large amounts of qualitative work before it is possible to quantify.

KUHN, T., 2002, the function of measurement in modern physical science.

Thankyou @David L Morgan , @E. Roberto Orellana, @Petri Lankoski

Dear All,

I read some of the suggested papers. I think the main issue is our view of the philosophy of the methodology. Without intending to marginalize the mixed methode view, but in principle it is difficult to mix two different methods of philosophy. Just as good does not mix well. Similarly, black is difficult to mix with white. Clearly, the principle of the method needs to be an important concern. I am worrying because the principle of triangulation for example, can cause mixing of two principles between negative and positive. Though we should choose, want a black or white, want a dark or bright. It will also guide our perspective on life. That's my mind, please put a comment. We are discussing to make our steps more mature. Thankyou

I'm wondering why you couldn't use a qualitative description for a quantitative conclusion or a quantitative description for a qualitative conclusion. It seems that as long as you use one method for description and the other method for conclusion, then the philosophies of each are kept separate, and the two methods can complement one another.

Thankyou @Kirk MacGregor.  I understand your way of thinking, but I think the recommended use is not a mixed method. Because of the data there is indeed a kind of quantitative data and the type of qualitative data. In my opinion, the data type is not a method. Similarly, the explanation of quantitative analysis in the form of description is not a qualitative method. Similarly the use of numbers for qualitative methods does not mean the same time using quantitative methods. Given it again, it's just the data type. Not a methodology. Sorry if my mind is different from other thoughts. This is a discussion to sharpen our view of methods, especially quantitative and qualitative. So my view, thankyou.

David Morgan has given a comprehensive answer to this question. I too learn from his work on this field. My simple answer to this question is Yes, no matter whether it is qualitative or quantitative Or mixed. what is needed is a deep and systematic investigation.

Thankyou all

The ultimate aim of Research is to find an appropriate answer to your research questions. This answer must be appropriate, scientific and evidence based. Employing a particular method (Qualitative or Quantitative) may not give us a clear picture of the problem under study. Under such circumstances, we may require adopting a mixing of the methods. This would be helpful in providing a wider and more precise picture of the problem.

There is nothing to worry about the philosophical grounding of the investigation. The importance remains with the scientific method adopted to find the answer.

Thank you @abdul azeez Ep to reinforcing my view

The following papers also provide support/elaboration. 

• McEvoy, P. and Richards, D. (2006). A critical realist rationale for using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. Journal of Research in Nursing, 11, 1, pp. 66-78.
• Östlund, U., Kidd, L., Wengström, Y. and Rowa-Dewar, N. (2011). Combining qualitative and quantitative research within mixed method research designs: A methodological review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 48, 3, pp. 369-383.
• Schulze, S. (2003). Views on the combination of quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Progressio, 25, 2, pp. 8-20. 

Thank you @kenneth

The following article may be helpful:

Moufakkir, O. (2011). Diaspora tourism: Using a mixed-mode survey design to

document tourism behavior and constraints of people of Turkish extraction resident in

Germany. Journal of Vacation Marketing.