This post is simply my record of lecturer comment on the topic of generalization of research (as posted in ETEC 565A webct vista thread ‘Not exactly nothing but NETS’).
John P Egan Date: May 23, 2011 8:53 AM
Generalizable quantitative research findings are trying to be predictive and rely on randomization of samples based on population size.
Qualitative research doesn’t use randomization, doesn’t aim for sample sizes based on population–so NO qualitative research is generalizable.
It is that black and white. 🙂 And yes, lots of qualitative research does it anyway.
What you’ve described sounds like mixed methods. For mixed methods one can use qualitative data to flesh out a quantitative finding.