A balanced view recognizes the benefits of personal observation and the scientific method (Seeman, 2010). These exemplify two primary ways of knowing, qualitative and quantitative, each with its advantages, and they can be used in combination.
In qualitative knowing, we first learn through personal experience that reaches us through our senses. Personal experience has the advantage of being immediately accessible without relying on anyone else. But, it is difficult to compare personal experience with that of other people. So, the case history method was invented to make up for some of these shortcomings. It accumulates the experiences of many people to form a boarded, deeper and less biased view than what most people can observe individually.
Quantitative methods further enrich our observations; we can measure them and compare quantitative findings. This is done through applying statistical reasoning to our observations and controlling conditions to facilitate more conclusive statistical inference.
A balanced approach applies qualitative and quantitative ways of knowing where each is best suited. It uses the findings of each to inform the other. Thus, The author believes in balanced research orientation.
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