Qualitative-dominant exploratory sequential mixed methods

This design begins with a substantive qualitative phase (QUAL) that drives the study, followed by a smaller quantitative phase (quan) used to test, refine, or extend qualitative findings to a broader sample. The qualitative strand holds priority in both scope and interpretation; the quantitative strand serves a confirmatory or generalisability function. It is particularly well suited when theory or instrument development must be grounded in participants' own frameworks before statistical testing.