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Theme 2

rich and complex understanding of people’s experience and not in
Notes
obtaining information which can be generalised to other larger
groups.

2.2.3 Pragmatic approach to research (mixed methods)

The pragmatic (mixed methods) approach to research involves using
the method which appears best suited to the research problem and
not getting caught up in philosophical debates about which is the
best approach. Pragmatic researchers therefore grant themselves
the freedom to use any of the methods, techniques and procedures
typically associated with quantitative or qualitative research. They
recognise that every method has its limitations and that the different
approaches can be complementary.

They may also use different techniques at the same time or one after
the other. For example, they might start with face-to-face interviews
with several people or have a focus group and then use the findings
to construct a questionnaire to measure attitudes in a large-scale
sample with the aim of carrying out statistical analysis.

Depending on which measures have been used, the data collected
is analysed in the appropriate manner. However, it is sometimes
possible to transform qualitative data into quantitative data and vice
versa, although transforming quantitative data into qualitative data is
not very common.

Being able to mix different approaches has the advantages of
enabling triangulation. Triangulation is a common feature of mixed
methods studies.

In some studies, qualitative and quantitative methods are used E
simultaneously. In others, first one approach is used and then the
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next, with the second part of the study perhaps expanding on the Professional portfolio and workplace project - Part 1
results of the first. For example, a qualitative study involving in-depth © Copyright reserved
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interviews or focus group discussions might serve to obtain T

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