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Sechrest, L. and S. Sidani (1995). "Quantitative and qualitative methods: Is There an Alternative?" Evaluation and Program Planning 18(1): 77.
The social sciences are particularly self-concious about their methodologies, and the distinction between quantitative and qualitative methods is more distinctly drawn than it should be. To some extent, proponents of both approaches have exaggerated the differences. Arguments opposed to quantitative methods are refutable, and methodological pluralism is needed and should be encouraged. Clinical and formulaic approaches to inquiry may be distinguished, but the two approaches may be used within the same line of inquiry but at different stages in the process leading from data collection, through analysis and interpretation, to utilization of information. In fact, both approaches may be used at the same points with the additional benefit of permitting triangulation on a closer approximation to the truth.