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Causal analysis as a bridge between qualitative and quantitative research

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2022

Rosemary Blersch
Affiliation:
Barrett-Henzi Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canadablerschr@uleth.ca, neil.franchuk@uleth.ca,lucas@uleth.ca, christina.nord@uleth.ca, steph.varsanyi@uleth.ca, tyler.bonnell@uleth.cahttps://banzilab.github.io/ Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystems Research Unit, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, Lethbridge, ABT1K 3M4, Canada
Neil Franchuk
Affiliation:
Barrett-Henzi Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canadablerschr@uleth.ca, neil.franchuk@uleth.ca,lucas@uleth.ca, christina.nord@uleth.ca, steph.varsanyi@uleth.ca, tyler.bonnell@uleth.cahttps://banzilab.github.io/
Miranda Lucas
Affiliation:
Barrett-Henzi Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canadablerschr@uleth.ca, neil.franchuk@uleth.ca,lucas@uleth.ca, christina.nord@uleth.ca, steph.varsanyi@uleth.ca, tyler.bonnell@uleth.cahttps://banzilab.github.io/
Christina M. Nord
Affiliation:
Barrett-Henzi Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canadablerschr@uleth.ca, neil.franchuk@uleth.ca,lucas@uleth.ca, christina.nord@uleth.ca, steph.varsanyi@uleth.ca, tyler.bonnell@uleth.cahttps://banzilab.github.io/ Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystems Research Unit, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, Lethbridge, ABT1K 3M4, Canada
Stephanie Varsanyi
Affiliation:
Barrett-Henzi Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canadablerschr@uleth.ca, neil.franchuk@uleth.ca,lucas@uleth.ca, christina.nord@uleth.ca, steph.varsanyi@uleth.ca, tyler.bonnell@uleth.cahttps://banzilab.github.io/ Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystems Research Unit, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, Lethbridge, ABT1K 3M4, Canada
Tyler R. Bonnell
Affiliation:
Barrett-Henzi Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canadablerschr@uleth.ca, neil.franchuk@uleth.ca,lucas@uleth.ca, christina.nord@uleth.ca, steph.varsanyi@uleth.ca, tyler.bonnell@uleth.cahttps://banzilab.github.io/ Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystems Research Unit, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, Lethbridge, ABT1K 3M4, Canada

Abstract

Yarkoni argues that one solution is to abandon quantitative methods for qualitative ones. While we agree that qualitative methods are undervalued, we argue that both are necessary for thoroughgoing psychological research, complementing one another through the use of causal analysis. We illustrate how directed acyclic graphs can bridge qualitative and quantitative methods, thereby fostering understanding between different psychological methodologies.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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