Business & Management Studies

Abstract

The methodology aspect of a research study is deemed central to the trustworthiness of that study's findings. Irrespective of this, most researchers, especially emerging researchers often fall for the entrenched dualist reasoning for methodological choices. Often, emerging researchers, postgraduate students in particular, and some established researchers believe in the quantitative - qualitative research divide and that these two methodological approaches cannot be employed in the same study. Several scholars have chided the dualist or purist approaches as prejudicial to the attainment of rich research findings. Thus, this conceptual note sought to stimulate further the debate leading to the understanding that these two research traditions can be combined in one study to address research questions and thus enhance the research findings. The paper discusses the philosophical views of the two research approaches confirming their differences and argues against the incompatibility thesis raised by purists in the debate against mixing the qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The article then discusses the mixed methods research approach to dispel the binary or purist reasoning and encourage emerging researchers to embrace the mixed methods research where possible to answer the research questions.