Quantitative and qualitative research stem from different philosophical assumptions that shape the ways researchers approach problems and collect and analyze data.It may be more diffi cult to carry out a mixed 
methods study because one must have knowledge and an understanding of both 
quantitative and qualitative methodology.Positivism is often considered the traditional 
scientifi c method, which involves hypothesis testing and objective data gathering to arrive at fi ndings that are systematic, generalizable, and open to replication by other investigators.For a time, the relationship between quantitative and qualitative 
researchers was somewhat adversarial, but gradually there was a trend toward 
rapprochement as researchers began to see quantitative and qualitative methodology as complementary.Table 2.1 summarizes 
briefl y the major characteristics of the quantitative and qualitative research 
approachesWe next discuss specifi c types of research included in the broad categories of 
quantitative and qualitative research.They 
believed that using quantitative methods in highly controlled settings ignored 
the participants' perspectives and experiences.Positivists believe that general principles or laws govern the social world as they do the physical world and that 
through objective procedures researchers can discover these principles and 
apply them to understand human behavior.The positivists, such as Francis 
Bacon (recall the anecdote in Chapter 1), stressed observation as the primary 
source of dependable knowledge.Furthermore, because researchers do not know in advance 
how naturally occurring events will unfold or what variables may be important, 
they do not begin a study with hypotheses.A mixed methods study also typically 
involves more extensive data collection and analysis and thus will require more 
time and effort to complete.The reader is referred to Creswell and Plano Clark (2006) for in-depth 
discussion of the mixed methods approach in research.Quantitative research originated in positivism, a philosophic view 
formulated in Europe in the 19th century.Qualitative research is based on a different philosophical approach, which 
sees the individual and his or her world as so interconnected that essentially 
the one has no existence without the other.In 
the late 20th century, however, scholars began to call for an alternative to the 
quantitative approach in educational research (Guba & Lincoln, 1988).It sees social reality as unique; thus, 
researchers can only understand human behavior by focusing on the meanings 
that events have for the people involved.The intended result of a qualitative research study is a narrative report so 
rich and comprehensive that you can understand the social reality experienced 
by the participants.Historically, the quantitative approach has dominated education research.Qualitative research was the 
alternative.A caveat is in order, however.17-18).