18825. BUSINESS RESEARCH: QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE METHODS. This paper provides a comparative overview and analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods as applied within business disciplines. The paper considers the major differences between quantitative and qualitative methods, considers their relative merits, examines the central limitations of each methodology, and describes some of the ways in which quantitative and qualitative data can be analyzed. Following basic definitions and a discussion of the relative positions of the two approaches in business disciplines, the paper explores the quantitative and qualitative method in business research. Considers the reasons behind the historical and continued preference for quantitative over qualitative business research methods as well as recent trends in business research emphasizing the need to integrate qualitative approaches into quantitative studies. KEYWORDS: business research methods quantitative methodology qualitative methodology quant-qual studies qual-quant studies triangulation mixed methods correlation meta-analysis grounded theory. APA Style. 15 pages, 82 footnotes, 37 bibliographic studies. 4,919 words.