Quantity with Quality? Teaching Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in an LIS Master's Program

AFSTRACT To PREPARE FUTI’RE INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS for the rapidly changing environment in which they will work, library and information science (LIS) educators have an obligation to ensure that their graduates understand, conceptually and pragmatically, the major methodological paradigms of research. Most LIS programs offer only a single course in research methods. Within that constraint, an important question is whether or not both qualitative and quantitative methods can be taught adequately. This article suggests that, by integrating the teaching of both quantitative and qualitative methods through “between methods” triangulation, an adequate learning experience can be achieved. Such an approach allows students to explore research problems from multiple perspectives and to evaluate critically the strengths and weaknesses of each methodology. The article discusses the need for such an integrated approach and suggests a scenario for applying it within the realm of a single semester course.