Alright, I'm writing a research paper and am so confused. My topic is on whether or not participating in music affects a students standardized test scores. I am keeping track of scores over a period of time by keeping records of students. I know this is quantitative research, but would I also be allowed to include an open-ended questionnaire to find out more about how music has personally affected their education? I realize open-ended questions is qualitative research, I'm not sure if you can use both. Please help I'm so confused and stuck.
When conducting research, it is not uncommon to use a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. In your case, you are primarily focusing on quantitative research by examining the relationship between participating in music and standardized test scores over time.
However, including an open-ended questionnaire to gather qualitative data on how music has personally affected students' education can be a valuable addition to your research. It allows you to gain more in-depth insights and a deeper understanding of the experiences and perspectives of the students.
To incorporate this qualitative aspect into your research, you can develop a separate section in your research paper where you analyze and discuss the responses from the open-ended questionnaire. This will provide a broader context for your findings and potentially enrich your conclusions.
When analyzing the open-ended responses, you should identify common themes, trends, or patterns that emerge from the data. You can use coding techniques to categorize the responses and look for recurring ideas or experiences. By doing so, you will be able to draw connections between students' personal experiences with music and their education.
Remember, it is important to clearly delineate between the quantitative and qualitative aspects of your research and explain how they complement each other. This will ensure transparency and help readers understand the comprehensive nature of your investigation.
Overall, combining quantitative and qualitative methods can provide a comprehensive and holistic understanding of the topic you are studying.