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In many
research textbooks the distinction between qualitative and quantitative
research is inadvertently linked with philosophical perspectives. This in
essence creates a mutually exclusive relationship for researchers and
students. Initially researchers are led to believe, from these texts, that
research is neatly divided into mutually exclusive categories, these being
quantitative and qualitative research and ‘never the twain shall meet’.
This divide is further strengthened with the inference that the
relationship extends further; associating deduction with quantitative
methods and similarly induction with qualitative methods.
“What happens in most
texts is that qualitative research methods and quantitative research
methods are set against each other as polar opposites”
(Crotty,
1999, p19)
This
paper argues that methodological pluralism is acceptable but what is not
acceptable is philosophical pluralism. By naively linking methods and
approaches to specific philosophy researchers and students may miss out on
potentially innovative or creative data collection methods. Alternatively
and more importantly by feeling tied or constrained by their philosophical
stance to particular methods and approaches, associated with them by
texts, they may in fact reduce the credibility, validity, and or
significance of the research. There maybe an elective affinity between
certain philosophies and methods but this should not necessarily constrain
the methods chosen.
Keywords:
Methodology, Philosophy, Pluralism, Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
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