Notes on linking qualitative and quantitative data: The cross cultural physical activity participation study

The purpose of this research note is to show how linking qualitative and qu antitive data can give additional insights to leisure research. These possi bilities are illustrated through a study conducted about the involvement in physical activity of women of color. Over a 6-month period, African Americ an and American Indian participants completed physical activity records and other quantitative measurements including caltrac and pedometer readings. Some of these individuals also completed a 45- to 120-min qualitative inter view. Standard protocols for measurement and interviewing were followed. Th e quantitative data gave baseline information, and the in-depth interviews provided a greater psychosocial understanding of the physical activity of t hese women of color. This research note demonstrates how the linking of two types of data provided a holistic understanding of the physical activity o f these women of color and offered some additional information regarding ho w data types might be used in leisure research.