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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 ,
Neil Franchuk ,
Miranda Lucas ,
Christina M. Nord ,
Stephanie Varsanyi  and
Tyler R. Bonnell Open the ORCID record for Tyler R. Bonnell [Opens in a new window]
Rosemary Blersch
Affiliation:
Barrett-Henzi Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada blerschr@uleth.ca, neil.franchuk@uleth.ca,lucas@uleth.ca, christina.nord@uleth.ca, steph.varsanyi@uleth.ca, tyler.bonnell@uleth.ca https://banzilab.github.io/ Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystems Research Unit, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
Neil Franchuk
Affiliation:
Barrett-Henzi Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada blerschr@uleth.ca, neil.franchuk@uleth.ca,lucas@uleth.ca, christina.nord@uleth.ca, steph.varsanyi@uleth.ca, tyler.bonnell@uleth.ca https://banzilab.github.io/
Miranda Lucas
Affiliation:
Barrett-Henzi Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada blerschr@uleth.ca, neil.franchuk@uleth.ca,lucas@uleth.ca, christina.nord@uleth.ca, steph.varsanyi@uleth.ca, tyler.bonnell@uleth.ca https://banzilab.github.io/
Christina M. Nord
Affiliation:
Barrett-Henzi Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada blerschr@uleth.ca, neil.franchuk@uleth.ca,lucas@uleth.ca, christina.nord@uleth.ca, steph.varsanyi@uleth.ca, tyler.bonnell@uleth.ca https://banzilab.github.io/ Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystems Research Unit, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
Stephanie Varsanyi
Affiliation:
Barrett-Henzi Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada blerschr@uleth.ca, neil.franchuk@uleth.ca,lucas@uleth.ca, christina.nord@uleth.ca, steph.varsanyi@uleth.ca, tyler.bonnell@uleth.ca https://banzilab.github.io/ Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystems Research Unit, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
Tyler R. Bonnell
Affiliation:
Barrett-Henzi Lab, Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada blerschr@uleth.ca, neil.franchuk@uleth.ca,lucas@uleth.ca, christina.nord@uleth.ca, steph.varsanyi@uleth.ca, tyler.bonnell@uleth.ca https://banzilab.github.io/ Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystems Research Unit, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
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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.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 45 , 2022 , e4
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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