Give each method a purpose
Public health questions often require more than one form of evidence. Quantitative analysis can describe distribution, trends and associations. Qualitative enquiry can explore experience, meaning and the reasons a response works differently across settings.
The value comes from integration, not simply commissioning a survey and some interviews. Start with the question and decide what each method must contribute. Specify where the findings will be brought together before collecting either dataset.
Disagreement is an analytical finding
When reported satisfaction looks positive but interviews describe access problems, do not choose the more convenient result. Check whether the sources concern the same people, period and stage of the pathway. The difference may reveal who never reached the survey.
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Inside the full briefing
- Choose a design that fits the uncertainty
- Respect the limits of both forms of evidence
- Integrate findings around the decision
- Questions for commissioners
- Where to start