Combining quantitative and qualitative survey work. Methodological framework, practical issues, and case studies

This document is an output of the DFID funded research project R7033 "Methodological Framework for Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches for Socio-Economic Survey Work". The project's main objective was to improve survey methodologies used in the natural resources sector, leading in turn to improved quality of information required for decision-making at the various stages of natural resources programmes and projects. The project, which was jointly implemented by the Natural Resources Institute and the Statistical Services Centre, attempted to bridge the gap between informal I qualitative methods on the one hand and formal I quantitative ones on the other. The document is presented in the form of a manual, allowing the user to read each of its parts and sections independently of each other. Nevertheless, cross references indicate links to other parts of the document where appropriate. Part I provides a methodological framework, which will also be available as a Best-Practice Guideline published by the Natural Resources Systems Programme of DFID. Part 11, which contains six theme papers, looks into a number of practical issues encountered when combining quantitative and qualitative survey techniques. And finally, in Part III case studies are used to demonstrate how the two approaches can be integrated in survey work and experiments related to the natural resources sector. The framework document, theme papers and case studies have been produced between 1998 and 2000.