Organizational Research Methods 2003 Yauch 465 81

Organizational Research Methods http://orm.sagepub.com/ Complementary Use of Qualitative and Quantitative Cultural Assessment Methods
Charlene A. Yauch and Harold J. Steudel
Organizational Research Methods 2003 6: 465
DOI: 10.1177/1094428103257362
The online version of this article can be found at: http://orm.sagepub.com/content/6/4/465 Published by: http://www.sagepublications.com On behalf of:

The Research Methods Division of The Academy of Management

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ARTICLE
ORGANIZATIONAL
10.1177/1094428103257362
Yauch,
Steudel / CULTURAL
RESEARCH
ASSESSMENT
METHODSMETHODS

Complementary Use of Qualitative and
Quantitative Cultural Assessment Methods
CHARLENE A. YAUCH
Oklahoma State University

HAROLD J. STEUDEL
University of Wisconsin–Madison

The organizational cultures of two small manufacturers were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative assessment methods. This article describes not only how qualitative and quantitative data contributed to the validity of the results through triangulation but also how the qualitative and quantitative research paradigms were used in a complementary fashion to produce a more complete understanding of the organizational cultures. Using methods from both research paradigms enabled a greater understanding of cultural artifacts and behaviors but more important of the underlying cultural values and assumptions. Based on this experience, it is recommended that qualitative and quantitative methods be used to produce more robust results than could be

Citations: http://orm.sagepub.com/content/6/4/465.refs.html >> Version of Record - Oct 1, 2003 What is This? Downloaded from orm.sagepub.com at University of Stellenbosch on April 4, 2014 Downloaded from orm.sagepub.com at University of Stellenbosch on April 4, 2014 466 The focus of qualitative and quantitative research is different. According to Morgan and Smircich (1980), the appropriateness of using qualitative or quantitative techniques depends on the underlying assumptions of the researcher and the nature of the According to Greene, Caracelli, and Graham (1989), there are three purposes for mixed-methods research: (a) triangulation, to corroborate data and obtain convergent Articles written by Jick (1979) and Stake (2000) exemplify the broad definition of triangulation A more common and narrow definition of triangulation is that it is a vehicle for cross-validation when multiple methods produce comparable data (e.g., Yin, 1994). Downloaded from orm.sagepub.com at University of Stellenbosch on April 4, 2014 Yauch, Steudel / CULTURAL ASSESSMENT METHODS