Qualitativa, quantitativa ou quali-quantitativa: Como identificar de modo rápido a abordagem de um artigo científico?

Scientific articles are documents that can be developed using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-method (qualitative-quantitative) approaches. This study aims to briefly and simply outline the characteristics of each approach qualitative, quantitative and quali-quantitative in scientific articles. Understanding how a study was conducted—specifically, how data were collected and analyzed to present evidence, ensure reproducibility, and apply results—enhances the comprehension of research. Generally, research in the humanities and social sciences tends to be qualitative, whereas the exact sciences, mathematics, and clinical health studies tend to rely more on quantitative methods. There is no rigid rule distinguishing these study types; indeed, mixed-method studies—combining qualitative, quantitative, or both approaches—are common across all fields of knowledge. These approaches complement one another, enabling readers to gain a better understanding of the phenomena under study.