Rising to Challenges of combining qualitative and quantitative Research

This paper reports on the methodological challenges encountered during a research project employing a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches. The worldwide shortage of educators for information technology prompted the researchers to explore the personal qualities desired for Computer Educators who are Destined to Achieve Results (CEDARs) and to develop an assessment instrument to identify a CEDAR, which could be used in the recruitment of potential CEDARs. The overall research project is divided into three stages. This paper reports only on the progress made in stage one. The research design of stage one follows a three phase format in which data gathering is done by a questionnaire containing closed items accruing quantitative data and open ended items accruing qualitative data. The first sample was comprised by staff in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Pretoria. Based on the findings of this phase, the questionnaire was subsequently refined and presented to delegates at a national computer educators' conference. The third phase, still in process, will involve a sample of computer science educators located by means of the Internet.