Quantity and Quality

This post mentions a study by Hamre and Pianta and one by Sleeter. 

The quantitative study by Hamre and Pianta taught me that experimental research in the classroom can be a difficult process. There are numerous variables that are practically impossible to control. There is a balance required between control of an experiment and its generalizability. Therefore, it is important to define clearly what factors you will be looking for but also be aware of the numerous influences that may obscure the results of your study. One can never eliminate all the threatening factors but with a clear purpose in mind, on can limit the effects of uncontrollable variables.
The study by Sleeter taught me that qualitative research has an important role to play in educational research. The case study of an individual can often tell us much about a certain phenomenon. If the study is rigorous and employs triangulation, it can be an insightful piece of research. An awareness of personal bias is necessary and tools such as rubrics can be employed to add some objectivity to the analysis.    
I feel that a mixed method appeals to me the most. I love the scientific rigor of pure statistics and I respect the power of those numbers. However, I am mindful of the way that statistics, removed from the contexts in which they were obtained, are used to prove opinions and further agendas. I like the personal aspect of qualitative research. I think that the narrative nature of quantitative studies mixed with the experimental consistency of quantitative results makes for compelling and precise research.