Teaching Practical Research Skills: Qualitative vs. Quantitative Methods

Dr. Joe Mazzola joins Richard and Tara to explore the world of qualitative research methods in industrial-organizational psychology. As Director of the IO Master's Program at Meredith College, Dr. Mazzola brings unique insights into how qualitative approaches can complement quantitative methods to reveal deeper truths about workplace experiences. The conversation covers his journey from studying occupational health at USF to building a thriving graduate program in Raleigh's Triangle area, where students learn both research skills and practical consulting applications.
The discussion highlights how qualitative research captures the human stories behind workplace stress, fitness, and nutrition data. Dr. Mazzola explains why mixed methods research is underutilized despite its power to answer complex questions, shares advice for students interested in qualitative work, and offers his perspective on AI's role in content analysis. Whether you're a researcher, student, or practitioner, this episode provides valuable insights into enriching your methodological toolkit.

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00:00 - Welcome and Introduction
00:36 - Meet Dr. Joe Mazzola
01:45 - Triangle area opportunities
02:08 - From quant training to qual research
03:30 - The human element in research
04:21 - Balancing qual and quant approaches
06:56 - Mixed methods in graduate stress study
09:10 - Fitness and nutrition research
11:38 - Practical qual for student consulting
13:10 - Teaching qualitative methods
15:26 - Building qual curriculum
16:57 - Challenges publishing qualitative work
19:20 - Balancing research and administration
22:14 - Collaborative research with students
23:38 - Students' affinity for qual methods
25:11 - Practical skills vs complex stats
26:12 - Mixed methods: the underused approach
27:43 - AI in qualitative content analysis
29:13 - Closing thoughts on qual advocacy
29:26 - Outro and community links