Developments (last 20 years)

1
Developments (last 20 years)

• Increasing interest in and advocacy for mixed
  methods
• Evolving understanding of what is mixed methods
  research
• Developing designs and innovative techniques
• The emergence of mixed methods as a third
  methodological movement in the social and
  behavioral sciences began during the 1980s.
  (Tashakkori Teddlie, 2003 697)

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Development of NIH guidelines (1999)
Combining qualitative and quantitative methods
has gained broad appeal in public health
research. (1999)
- Mentioned several approaches for
combining qualitative and quantitative
research - Advanced considerations for deciding
what model to use (literature available, prior
studies, realistic design, expertise) -
Suggested to describe each method thoroughly
3
Books on Mixed Methods Research
14 books on mixed methods research have been
written since 1988
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A New Journal
Journals Devoted to Mixed Methods Fieldwork Qual
ity and Quantity Mixed Method Approaches
Editors John W. Creswell and Abbas
Tashakkori Managing Editor Vicki L. Plano Clark
Email vpc_at_unlserve.unl.edu
5
Conferences

• Mixed Methods Conference, Cambridge, England,
  July 21-24, 2008
• Proposed mixed methods conference, Sydney,
  Australia, 2009
• Discipline conferences with mixed methods papers

6
Critics (Creswell, 2007)

• Is there a post-positivist leaning to mixed
  methods?
• Howe, K. R. (2004). A critique of
  experimentalism. Qualitative Inquiry, 10, 42-61.
• Giddings, L. S. (2006). Mixed-methods research
  Positivism dressed in drag? Journal of Research
  in Nursing, 11(3), 195-2003.
• Holmes, C. A. (2007). Mixed(up) methods,
  methodology and interpretive frameworks.
  Contributed paper for the Mixed Methods
  Conference, Cambridge, University, July 10-12,
  2006.
• What are the limits for mixed methods research?
• Sale, J. E. M., Lohfeld, L. H., Brazil, K.
  (2002). Revisiting the quantitative-qualitative
  debate Implications for mixed-methods research.
  Quality and Quantity, 36, 43-53.
• Leahey, E. (2007). Convergence and
  confidentiality? Limits to the implementation of
  mixed methodology. Social Science Research, 36,
  149-158.
• Is there a dominant discourse in mixed methods
  research?
• Freshwater, D. (2007). Reading mixed methods
  research Contexts for criticism. Journal of
  Mixed Methods Research, 1(2), 134-146.

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Mixed methods is not that different from other
methods
Identifying a research problem Reviewing the
literature
Identifying a purpose and stating questions
Views of knowledge
Assumptions
Collecting data Analyzing and interpreting data
Reporting and evaluating the study
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Mixed Methods within Designs

Experimental research
Ethnography
Case Study Research
Narrative research
Qual ----- Quan
Qual----- Quan
Qual-----Quan
Qual---- Quan
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What is this Method Called?

• Multi-method
• Triangulation
• Integrated
• Combined
• Quantitative and qualitative methods
• Multi-methodology
• Mixed methodology
• Mixed-method
• Mixed research
• Mixed methods

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Mixing (How)

Converge data
Results
Qual
Quan
Connect data
Qual
Quan
Results
Embed the data
Quan data
Qual data
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Mixing Why?

• Validity to corroborate quan and qual data
• Offset offset weaknesses of quan and qual and
  draw on strengths
• Completeness more comprehensive account that
  qual or quan alone
• Process quan provides outcomes qual, the
  processes
• Explanation qual can explain quan results or
  vice-versa
• Unexpected results surprising results from one,
  other explains
• Instrument development qual employed to design
  instrument
• Credibility both approaches enhance integrity
  of findings
• Context qual provides context quan provides
  general.
• Utility more useful to practitioners

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Purist Stance
Smith Heshusius, (1986)
Incompatibility thesis The contention of
this paper is that the claim of compatibility,
let alone one of synthesis, cannot
be sustained. (p. 4)
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Single Paradigm Stance

• Pragmatism (Tashakkori Teddlie, 2003)
• Focus on research question
• What works, consequences
• Multiple methods large toolkit
• Transformative (Mertens, 2003)
• Transform lives of underrepresented, marginalized
  groups
• Incorporate this focus into all phases of
  research

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Developing Designs and Innovative Techniques
Key Developments

• Notation
• Typologies
• Diagrams of procedures
• Complex evaluation models
• Reconceptualizing designs
• Emergence of innovations in procedures
• Unusual blends
• Methodological issues
• Data analysis techniques
• Presentation techniques

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Preliminary Design Considerations (Morse, 1991)
quan
qual
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Parsimonious Designs (Creswell Plano Clark,
2007)
Concurrent Mixed Methods Designs
Triangulation Design
Embedded Design
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Sequential Designs Mixed Methods Designs
Explanatory Design
Exploratory Design
Sequential Embedded Design
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Example of A Diagram
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Complex Mixed Methods Evaluation Designs
(Nastasi, Hitchcock, Sarkar, Burkholder, Varjas
Jayasena, 2007) Study of mental
health interventions for youth in Sri Lanka