Kuantitatif, Kualitatif, Hingga Mixed Methods : Memahami Tiga Pilar Metodologi Riset Pendidikan

By Muhamad Saharoni
(5th-Semester Student, Department of Islamic Education Management, Class MPI V-C, Sunan Gunung Djati State Islamic University Bandung)

Research in the field of education is not merely a final assignment requirement but an academic pathway to finding solutions to real problems---from learning quality and school policies to curriculum development. To ensure that research does more than simply collect data without direction, a research methodology is needed as a framework that guides every stage, from formulating the problem and selecting the approach to analyzing the results.

The quantitative approach stems from a positivist paradigm, which believes that reality can be measured objectively. Researchers maintain distance from the research object, use questionnaires or standardized tests, and derive hypotheses from established theories. The collected data are analyzed using statistics---both descriptive, to illustrate conditions, and inferential, to draw conclusions applicable to a wider population. Its strengths lie in objectivity and the ability to generalize findings, while its limitation is the difficulty in capturing subtle social meanings and human experiences.

In contrast, qualitative research views reality as a multifaceted social construct. Researchers do not merely observe but also engage in the process of understanding through interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. Validity is assessed by the credibility of the findings---for example, through data triangulation or member checking with informants. The strength of qualitative research lies in its ability to reveal processes and meanings that numbers cannot represent. However, because of its contextual nature, the findings are difficult to generalize to a broader population.

When educational problems are too complex to be addressed by a single approach, mixed methods become the solution. This strategy combines the precision and generalizability of quantitative research with the depth of qualitative understanding. For example, in evaluating a school literacy program, quantitative data can reveal improved reading scores, while qualitative interviews uncover the experiences and challenges faced by teachers and students. This combination enriches validity and provides a comprehensive picture, though it demands greater time, cost, and researcher expertise.

Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods are not rivals but complementary lenses. Quantitative research offers certainty through numbers, qualitative research provides context-rich understanding, and mixed methods integrate both for a more holistic analysis. For educators, students, and policymakers, understanding these three approaches is an essential foundation for producing research that is both valid and relevant. With a strong methodology, educational research can serve as the basis for policies and teaching practices that are truly evidence-based.

Reference source: https://digilib.uinsgd.ac.id/id/eprint/121673

This article is part of the Teaching Module for the Research Methods in Management course, Section 2: Foundations of Educational Research Methodology (Research Methodology & Types of Research: from Paradigms and Types of Data Analysis), supervised by Prof. Dr. H. A. Rusdiana, M.M.

Sumber : Dokumen Pribadi)