Combining quantitative and qualitative methodologies in logistics research

TLDR

Logistics research has traditionally been dominated by quantitative, positivist studies, but there is a growing movement toward qualitative methods and methodological triangulation to achieve richer, multidimensional insights. The paper urges logistics researchers to reflect on their epistemological stance and adopt alternative methodologies for more valid knowledge. It explains dominant research paradigms and their methods, and demonstrates how triangulating quantitative and qualitative approaches in a port‑ferry decision‑making case produced deeper insights than a single method.

Abstract

The majority of logistics research is primarily populated by quantitative research viewed through a positivist lens. Increasingly, there are calls for logistics research to more frequently employ qualitative methodologies. The trend in management research generally is increasingly to use methods and approaches which provide a middle ground between the contrasting positivist and phenomenological paradigms and perspectives. Methodological triangulation, using quantitative and qualitative methodologies, increasingly provides multidimensional insights into many management research problems. This paper urges logistics researchers to think about the paradigm through which they view the world and to explore the use of alternative methodologies. If the ultimate aim is to gain knowledge about the world then one needs to do this in the most valid way possible. This paper describes the dominant research paradigms and perspectives and their generally concomitant research methodologies and describes some research (decision‐making concerning choice of ports/ferries) where methodological triangulation, using quantitative and qualitative methodologies, yielded greater insights than would have been the case if a single research methodology had been employed.