Combining qualitative and quantitative research methods: considering the possibilities for enhancing the study of chronic diseases.

Abstract

This paper discusses some of the underlying reasons why health researchers have historically had difficulty working collaboratively across qualitative and quantitative research paradigms and argues why it is imperative that researchers move beyond traditional adherence to particular methods of inquiry. Chronic illnesses are prime examples of conditions that by their very nature need to be studied from a combination of perspectives, using both qualitative and quantitative methods. We suggest that the success of health research on managing these conditions lies in the shared application of both qualitative and quantitative research perspectives, methods and tools. In addition, we argue that effective research into long-term chronic illnesses requires not only combined research efforts but also longitudinal programs of study, so that the experience of managing chronic conditions can be captured over time.