Merging Quantitative and Qualitative Research Techniques: Toward a New Research Paradigm

This paper focuses on the merging of qualitative and quantitative research approaches in educational research. Three Thai studies in the education-related social sciences are reviewed as examples to illustrate the advantages to be gained by integrating qualitative and quantitative methods. Finally, ethnographic residual analysis is introduced as a new paradigm for developing a deeper and better understanding of the complex interrelationships among educational inputs, educational processes, and educational out comes.