Practical Strategies for Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Methods: Examples from Focus Groups and Survey Research This talk describes a series of research designs for combining qualitative and quantitative methods, using a "Priority and Sequence Model." First, a decision about the priority of the two methods selects either a qualitative or a quantitative approach to be the principal method. Second, a decision about sequencing determines whether the complementary method will serve as either a preliminary or a follow-up to the principal method. These two decisions yield four basic research designs: 1) preliminary qualitative methods in a quantitative study; 2) preliminary quantitative methods in a qualitative study; 3) follow-up qualitative methods in a quantitative study; and 4) follow-up quantitative methods in a qualitative study. The talk includes illustrations for each of these designs, using a combination of focus groups and survey research. The conclusions consider the further possibilities implied by these research designs, as well as the expertise that is necessary to develop this kind of multiple-methods research. =/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/= = = = David L. Morgan = = Institute on Aging = = Portland State University = = Portland OR 97201 = = = = Phone: 503-725-5146 = = Fax: 503-725-5199 = = = = morgand@pdx.edu = = = =/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=/=