Lecture 6 - Mixed method design

Question 1

(!) Describe mixed methods in general & when & how to use it

Answer 1

General:
- At least 1 qual & 1 quant methods within single study
- Often when incl. procedure from mainstream paradigm

When to use:
- Confirm result
- Inform other method
- New angle, finding or contradiction
- Elaborate, clarify or build on method
- Tell full story
- Develop theory

How to combine designs:

General:
- One pre-dominate
- Sequence: One inform other
- Interaction/Iteration: Repetitive process

Quant + Qual:
- Qual to understand mechanism identified in quant
- Qual to generate hypotheses to be test w. quant
- Quantify qual data to validate

Question 2

(!) Describe the five mixed method purposes

Answer 2

Triangulation:
- Simultan
- Validate
- Same phenomenon, merging results
- Counteract or maximize heterogeneity in irrelevant sources
- Designed use of multiple methods

___________

Complementarity:
- Simultan
- Same phenomenon, different facet
- Enhance results
- Clarify or illustrate results from one method with result from another
- Not validation

___________

Development:
- Sequential
- Develop purpose
- One study inform the other
- One predominate
- Time implementation
- Interactive

___________

Initiation:
- Sequential
- Contradictions find shortcomings & start new research
- Different perspectives
- Cyclical interaction

___________

Expansion:
- Sequential
- One predominate
- Extent scope
- Test/focus on process (qual) & outcome (quant)

Question 3

(!) Describe the benefits & weaknesses of mixed methods

Answer 3

Benefits
- Rich insight
- Complex social reality: Ref. Hopper & Powel
- Higher validity
- Balance weaknesses of the two methods
- Explain human behavior more full, rich & complex

Weaknesses:
- Higher costs: Time & resources
- Theories may clash
- Alignment & integration: Merging results
- Conceptual differences: Translate qual into items, unit or scale
- ”Jack-of-all-trades & master of none”

Question 4

(?) Describe the paradigm war & solutions to it

Answer 4

Qualitative purists:
- Positivist philosophy
- Social science as physical science
- Objective observer
- Social science inquiries should be objective
- Time & context- free generalizations
- Researcher should eliminate bias
- Empiric justify stated hypotheses
- Impersonal passive voice when writing

Quantitative purists:
- Constructivist, interpretivist philosophy
- Reject positivism
- Multiple constructed realities
- Time & context free generalizations neither possible nor desirable
- Research is value bound
- Subjective knower as only source or reality
- Detailed thick description
- Dislike of passive detached writing style

Solution 1:
- Post-positivist approach to ontology & epistemology
- Critical realist
- Social reality exist independently of our perception
- Reality exist but can never be fully apprehended

Solution 2:
- Pragmatism
- ”What works” approach
- Recognize existence of natural physical world as well as social & psychological world
- Reject forced choice between positivism & constructivism