Qualitative Analyses of Quantitative Data Obtained by Questionnaire Survey

Abstract

Qualitative approaches in psychology have led to significant advances during the last couple of decades. However, an increasing number of recent studies suggest that qualitative approaches and conventional quantitative approaches should not be viewed simply as mutually exclusive options. Instead, it is important to find an effective mixture of both types of approaches. On this basis, the present study aims at offering deeper insights into study results by performing detailed qualitative analyses of quantitative data obtained by questionnaire survey. We reanalyzed some datasets of questionnaire survey answers, proceeding on the assumption that questionnaire survey administration is not a data collection procedure but rather a process of communication between researchers and respondents. We found that “Don’t Know” and “No Answer” responses or refusal to answer the questionnaire should be, and can be, considered as important data for understanding how respondents look at questionnaire surveys generally. The findings of this study are discussed from the viewpoint of triangulation and mixed-methods research.