mixed methods

Question 1

mixed methods

Answer 1

Mixed methods is the use of several different methods in the research so that:
fuller and more detailed information and data may be gathered
data gathered by one method may also be checked for accuracy compared to data gathered by another method
using mixed methods is a way to overcome the limitations of individual research methods
the use of mixed methods enables the strengths of both positivist and interpretive perspectives to be utilised

Question 2

William Foot Whyte

Answer 2

interviewed ‘Doc’, a leader of the street-corner gang he was studying, while also using participant observation. Sometimes research might employ one main method but find that this leaves gaps in the data which need to be filled. For example, ethnographers doing participant observation might also carry out interviews to find out about aspects of the social group and its history that they have been unable to observe. This gives it high validity

Question 3

Stephen Ball

Answer 3

In some circumstances quantitative methods are used to study the more stable aspects of social life while qualitative methods are employed to study changes. For example, Stephen Ball in his study of ‘Beachside Comprehensive’ (1981) used questionnaires to determine friendship networks and observation to examine how the children progressed through schooling. reliability - achieve what other methods couldn’t

Question 4

Involving Chinese older people in policy and practice.

Published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (mixed methods)

Answer 4

This study aimed to enable Chinese older people to influence policy and practice. The first involved group discussions with older Chinese people to formulate a joint statement. They carried out a pilot study which gained the trust of their participants, to relax them and help train them to become active, engaged members of the group discussion - validity and ethics.
Focus groups were organised at different stages of the project with a questionnaire to collect information about experiences of involvement.

Question 5

other

Answer 5

methodological pluralism
collection and recording of data
data analysis
quantitative and qualitative approaches and data
patterns and trends