Consensual Quality: Bridging the Gap Between Qualitative and Quantitative Research Holy-Trinity
Year: 2005
Type: article
Abstract: The scientific “wrestling” between qualitative and quantitative approaches seems to be interesting, yet also a never-ending story in the research inquiry. A great deal of literature argue that this unfinished struggle stems from the differences in philosophical background and research method, which accompany each research approach, and even, sometimes, the personal preference and competence of the researcher. Through a systematic pursuit of a substantial classical as well as recent literature, the author try to propose a new, but actually a disregarded ancient standard in order to bridge the gap between qualitative and quantitative approaches, especially concerning the criteria of the research holy-trinity (validity, reliability, and objectivity). Except the extremists, many people, unsurprisingly, seldom dichotomize research inquiry as pure qualitative or quantitative. Some people even already try to promote consolidation between the two poles of research approach and encourage the broadening of “traditional” criteria so that they can be legitimately applied across the entire spectrum of research approaches. While alternative criteria may not in the end be feasible or even, desirable, it will certainly still be useful to prevent confusion among the newcomers in this discussion. However, these alternatives do serve to remind us that qualitative and quantitative approaches are not as discrete as many people thought earlier.
Author: Tjundjing Sia
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2106634089