When you need to find an explanation for your findings. There are situations when the findings from
a quantitative approach need elaboration as to the exact meaning of the responses given by the
respondents. These exact meanings can only be understood when discussed with the respondents. In
such situations you need to combine quantitative methods with qualitative ones to further understand
the responses. According to Creswell and Clark (2011: 9), ‘Sometimes the result of a study may provide
an incomplete understanding of a research problem and there is a need for further explanation. In this
case, a mixed methods study is used with the second database helping to explain the first database. A
typical situation is when quantitative results require an explanation as to what they mean.’