Mixed%20Methods%20Designs

1
Chapter 17

• Mixed Methods Designs

2
Key Ideas

• Defining mixed methods research
• When do you use mixed methods designs?
• The development of mixed methods research
• Types of mixed methods designs
• Key characteristics of mixed methods research
• Steps in conducting a mixed methods study
• Evaluating a mixed methods study

3
What is mixed methods research?

• A mixed methods research design is a procedure
  for collecting, analyzing, and mixing both
  quantitative and qualitative data in a single
  study to understand a research problem.

4
When do you use mixed methods research?

• When both quantitative and qualitative data,
  together, provide a better understanding of your
  research problem than either type by itself
• To provide a complete picture of the research
  problem
• Quantitative trends and describing population
• Qualitative participants words

5
Identifying a mixed methods study in the
literature

• The title for words such as mixed methods or
  multi-method etc.
• Data collection section indicates both
  qualitative and quantitative data were collected
• Purpose statement and or research questions
  indicate that the researcher intends to collect
  both quantitative and qualitative data during the
  study

6
Identifying a mixed methods study in the
literature

• Priority or weight qualitative, or quantitative
  or both equally
• Sequence of collecting quantitative and
  qualitative data is indicated
• Analyze both data sets
• Combined in one analysis (Integrated)
• Separate analysis

7
Mixed methods designs Explanatory design

• Researcher places priority on quantitative (QUAN)
  data collection and analysis
• Researcher collects quantitative data first in
  the sequence
• Researcher uses the qualitative data to refine
  the results of the quantitative data

8
Mixed methods designs Triangulation design

• Researcher gives priority to both quantitative
  (QUAN) and qualitative (QUAL) data
• Researcher collects both quantitative and
  qualitative data simultaneously
• Researcher compares the results from quantitative
  and qualitative analysis to determine if the two
  data bases yield similar or dissimilar results

9
Mixed methods designs Exploratory design

• Research emphasizes qualitative (QUAL) data
  rather than quantitative (quan) data
• Researcher has a sequence to data collection that
  involves collecting qualitative data followed by
  quantitative data
• Researcher plans on the quantitative data to
  build on or explain the initial qualitative
  findings

10
Evaluating a mixed methods study

• Does the study employ at least one quantitative
  method and one qualitative method?
• Is it called a mixed methods (or a similar term)
  study?
• Is there a rationale for why the author intends
  to mix the methods in a single study and what
  will be gained in the process?

11
Evaluating a mixed methods study

• Does the author indicate the type of mixed
  methods study being presented? Alternatively,
  can you identify the type from reading the
  rationale or from a visual figure depicting the
  flow of the data collection activities?
• Does the author mention the priority given to
  quantitative and qualitative data and the
  sequence of their use in the study?
• Is the study feasible, given the data to be
  collected and the amount of money, time, and
  expertise required?

12
Evaluating a mixed methods study

• Have research questions been written for both
  quantitative and qualitative methods in the
  study?
• Have quantitative and qualitative data collection
  procedures been clearly identified?
• Are the procedures for data analysis consistent
  with the type of mixed methods study being
  presented?
• Is the written structure of the study consistent
  with the type of mixed methods study being
  presented?