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Combining Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to Social Research in Human Geography—An Impossible Mixture?

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  • L J Philip

    (Department of Geography and Topographic Science, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland)

Abstract

The author addresses the potential of a multiple-methods approach in human geography, an approach to social research which has received little explicit attention in the geographical literature to date. The relationship between epistemology and methodology is outlined, and the similarities and differences between quantitative and qualitative methods are described. Some problems surrounding subjectivity and objectivity in social research are also discussed. In addition, the relationship between methods and to whom the research is communicated is considered. It is hoped that the paper will stimulate future discussion both of the theoretical implications and of the practical use of a mixed-methods approach in human geography.

Suggested Citation

  • L J Philip, 1998. "Combining Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to Social Research in Human Geography—An Impossible Mixture?," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 30(2), pages 261-276, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:30:y:1998:i:2:p:261-276
    DOI: 10.1068/a300261
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. N J Thrift & R J Johnston, 1993. "The Futures of Environment and Planning A," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 25(1_suppl), pages 83-102, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Arun Agrawal & Ashwini Chhatre, 2011. "Strengthening Causal Inference through Qualitative Analysis of Regression Residuals: Explaining Forest Governance in the Indian Himalaya," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 43(2), pages 328-346, February.
    2. Richard Shearmur & Philippe Apparicio & Pauline Lizion & Mario Polèse, 2007. "Space, Time, and Local Employment Growth: An Application of Spatial Regression Analysis," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(4), pages 696-722, December.
    3. Vania Ceccato & Lars Olof Persson, 2001. "Dynamics of Rural Areas (DORA): The Swedish case studies," ERSA conference papers ersa01p71, European Regional Science Association.
    4. Kendra Strauss, 2009. "Cognition, Context, and Multimethod Approaches to Economic Decision Making," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 41(2), pages 302-317, February.
    5. LaDona Knigge & Meghan Cope, 2006. "Grounded Visualization: Integrating the Analysis of Qualitative and Quantitative Data through Grounded Theory and Visualization," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 38(11), pages 2021-2037, November.
    6. Noman Ahmed & Muhammad Sohail & Johana Ekwam, 2024. "Investigating Alternative Water Supply in Settlements: Cases from Turkana County in Kenya and Orangi in Karachi, Pakistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-17, October.
    7. Yang Liu, 2022. "Paradigmatic Compatibility Matters: A Critical Review of Qualitative-Quantitative Debate in Mixed Methods Research," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, March.
    8. Wang, Lu & Rosenberg, Mark & Lo, Lucia, 2008. "Ethnicity and utilization of family physicians: A case study of Mainland Chinese immigrants in Toronto, Canada," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 67(9), pages 1410-1422, November.
    9. Marianna Pavlovskaya, 2006. "Theorizing with GIS: A Tool for Critical Geographies?," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 38(11), pages 2003-2020, November.

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