Chapter 11 Flashcards
Mixed-Methods Designs
Helpful when…….
Helpful when trying to understand:
Process and Product
Outcomes and Explanations
Mixed-Methods Designs
Useful when…….
Useful when:
Quantitative methods produces findings, but qualitative methods are necessary to understand the findings
Qualitative methods identify interesting variables, but quantitative methods are necessary to show how the variables relate to each other
Advantages of mixed-methods designs
Advantages
Provides more comprehensive data
Includes multiple approaches to compensate for disadvantages with using a single method
Allows investigation of different types of questions in a single study
Allows examination of complex research questions
Includes triangulation to enhance credibility of the findings
Disadvantages of mixed-method designs
Disadvantages
Researcher needs an ability to conduct and interpret results from both quantitative and qualitative designs
May require more extensive data collection
May require more time and resources
Difficult to combine approaches when writing reports and forming conclusions
Types of Mixed-method Designs
Explanatory Design
Exploratory Design
Convergent or Triangulation Design
Explanatory Design
Quantitative methods provide results, which are then probed with qualitative methods to understand why the quantitative results occurred
Exploratory Design
Qualitative methods provide initial identification of important variables in an area. These variables are then further explored quantitatively, such as by creating a measurement scale in a new area, or confirming the qualitative findings using quantitative methods
Convergent or Triangulation Design
Quantitative and qualitative methods are conducted at the same time to allow triangulation of findings from both sets of methods. Failure to find convergence needs to be explained, if it occurs
For the quantitative part of a mixed-methods study: _____________ sampling is used.
Probability or Non-Probability sampling
For the qualitative part of a mixed-methods study: __________ sampling is used.
Purposeful sampling
Samples in mixed-methods studies may be connected:
A subset of a probability sample that responded to a survey may be interviewed in depth
Samples in mixed-methods studies may also be independent:
A survey may be sent to a random sample of respondents, and a second, different group of individuals from the same population may be the focus of observation and interviews
Sequential Explanatory Design
Two phases are present, a quantitative followed by a qualitative, with the emphasis being on the quantitative phase
QUAN -> qual
The purpose of a sequential explanatory design is _________________.
is to elucidate, elaborate on, or explain the quantitative findings
Concurrent Convergent Design
Simultaneous or close proximity collection of both quantitative and qualitative data
Emphasis is usually on both methods equally
QUAL -> QUAN (if qualitative method precedes quantitative method)
QUAN -> QUAL (if quantitative method precedes qualitative method)
QUAL + QUAN (if both methods occur simultaneously)
Results should provide triangulation of results, so that the reader receives a fuller picture than either method could produce on its own
Rationale
Identify and explain your reasons for mixing quantitative and qualitative methods
Design Considerations
Rationale
Priority/Weighting
Sequence/Timing
Data Mixing
Priority/Weighting
Identify the priority that will be given to each of the methods
Quantitative and Qualitative data will be given equal weighting
Qualitative data will be weighted more heavily than Quantitative data
Quantitative data will be weighted more heavily than Qualitative data
Sequence/Timing
Concurrent studies involve simultaneous collection of quantitative and qualitative data
Sequential studies involve one method first, followed by the other method
Data Mixing
The researcher may merge the two types of data into a single dataset, usually during the interpretation phase (discussion). In this case, quantitative and qualitative data are reported separately in the results.
The researcher may convert one type of data into the other type: either quantizing qualitative data or qualitizing quantitative data.
The researcher may connect the data, so that one type of data informs the data collection of the other type of data.
Steps in Conducting a Mixed-Methods Study
Determine the feasibility of conducting a mixed-methods study
Identify the rationale
Determine the design, types of data, and strategy for how you will collect data
Establish specific quantitative and qualitative research questions
Collect the data
Analyze the data
Write the report
Evaluating Mixed-Methods Studies
Merten’s 8 questions
What are the multiple purposes and questions that justify the use of a mixed-methods design?
Has the researcher matched the purposes and questions to appropriate methods?
To what extent has the researcher adhered to the criteria that define quality for the quantitative portion of the study?
To what extent has the researcher adhered to the criteria that define quality for the qualitative portion of the study?
How has the researcher addressed the tension between potentially conflicting demands of paradigms in the design and implementation of the study?
Has the researcher appropriately acknowledged the limitations associated with data that were collected to supplement the main data collection of the study?
How has the researcher integrated the results from the mixed-methods?
If necessary, how has the researcher explained conflicting findings that resulted from different methods?
What evidence is there that the researcher developed the design to be responsive to the practical and cultural needs of specific subgroups on the basis of such dimensions as disability, culture, language, reading levels, gender, class, and race or ethnicity?
