Mixed methods ( 6,9,10)

Question 1

What methodology does mixed methods fits?

Answer 1

This methodology fits the paradigm pragmatism.

Uses both qualitative and quantitative methods in one study.

Question 2

When does mixing method occur?

Answer 2

The mixing could occur during data collection, data analysis or when the findings are interpreted.

Question 3

Three main types of models:

Answer 3

Parallel: qualitative and quantitative components are carried out at the same time but the findings are not synthesised until both sets of data have been analysed separately.

Sequential: the qualitative and quantitative elements are undertaken separately, and one leads to and informs the other.

Embedded: when one component is embedded within the other component.

Question 4

Advantages of mixed methods research

Answer 4

Enables researchers to explore different perspective in one study
Allows researchers to explore different aspects of a complex phenomena in one study
Holistic approach
Draws on the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative research and reduces their impact of any weakness.
Facilitates collaborative working
More practical approach
May reveal new knowledge
Cost effective

Question 5

Disadvantages of mixed methods research

Answer 5

The differences in both research methods are such that they cannot be mixed
Power struggles between the research team
More time consuming
Findings may be complex, it is essential that the essence of the data is not lost.

Question 6

Factors to consider

Answer 6

Research skills training before the study begins is essential
Length of time for each element.

Question 7

What are mixed methodologies also known as

Answer 7

Mixed methodologies are also known as multiple, combined or blended methods research or mixed strategy or multi-strategy research

Question 8

Combining of methods is also known as

Answer 8

Triangulation.

Question 9

What is a strength of combining approaches

Answer 9

The research by drawing on the positive aspects of both interpretivism and positivism.

Question 10

Two types of surveys

Answer 10

The descriptive survey: this aims to describe as accurately as possible the situation as it is.

The explanatory survey or analytical survery: this aims to estabilish cause and effect relationships or associations between variables without the use of experimental manipulation

Question 11

Surverys are

• What type of approach
• What type of data collection?

Answer 11

Quantitive approach with the collection of quantifiable data from a large represenative approach

Method of data collection used will be determined by: the population, sample, the nature of the data, the resources available to the researcher

Question 12

The advantages of surverys include:

Answer 12

Surveys can be used to research a wide range of topics
Surverys can be efficient, cost effective and relatively economical to carry out

Surveys can be used to collect data from a wide geographical area particulary postal questionnaries or telephone intervies are used

Question 13

The advantages of surverys include: part 2

Answer 13

An extensive amount of data can be generated
Surveys have in comprasion to some other research methods fewer ethical implications: they do not involve invasive techniques or treatments

If the sample is representative of the population,survey findings can be generalised to the total population thus promoting internal and external validity
Surverys can be replicated

Question 14

The disadvantages of surverys include:

Answer 14

Internal and external validity is influence bythe sampling strategy used

Surverys tend to be used to collect exlcusively quantitative data. Some would regard this as a limitation
Surverys are oftern carried out without adequate planning/design

Surverys may yeild low response rates

Difficult to assess validity and reliability without access to the data collection tool

Question 15

What is action research

Answer 15

Action research begins when a problem is identified and acknowledge by a group of people who agree to work together to try solve the problem

Question 16

Action research is also known as

Answer 16

Known as participatory, collaborative or emancipatory research

Question 17

What is a strength of action research

Answer 17

Strength: it empowers nurses and midwives. Promotes team working, allows team members to take owernship of research

Question 18

What is a limatation of action research

Answer 18

Limitation: implementation of change can be undertaken without the need to make it into a research study

Question 19

The 1st cycle of the action research consists of four key stages:

Answer 19

Assess: the nature and extend of the problem is assessed

Plan: an intervention or change is identified which the group feels is likely to address the problem

Implement: the intervention or change is implemented

Evaluate: the impact of the intervention or change is evaluated

Question 20

Data collection in action research

Answer 20

Traditional data collection includes interviews, questionnaries, focus groups may be used.

Question 21

What is Historical research

Answer 21

Involves the collection and analysis of data that can relate to people, places and events in the past

Question 22

How does historical research

Answer 22

Begins with identification of a topic and from this research question should be developed

Question 23

Limatations historical research

Answer 23

Estabilishing existence of data and negotiating access can be time consuming . Financial cost may be involved to access data
Insufficent data
Determining the reliability and authenticity of data can be problematic
Qualitative approach

Question 24

How should data be analysed in historical research

Answer 24

The data should be analysed in the context of social, cultural, religious, economic and polictical agenda of that time

Question 25

What should the researcher do in historical research

Answer 25

The researcher should not generlise of oversimplify the findings.
The research should question which individual data source is represenative of people more generally or the wider situation

Question 26

What type of resources can be used in historical research

Answer 26

Primary & Secondary

Question 27

What is systematic review?

Answer 27

Systematic reviews are a type of literature review that uses systematic methods to collect secondary data, critically appraise research studies, and synthesize findings qualitatively or quantitatively.

Question 28

Benefits of Systematic review

Answer 28

It saves practitioners an enormous amount of time in conducting their own search of papers and helps them to make informed decisions about treatments they offers

Is the effort to remove all possible bias from the process providing more plausible and robust results

Question 29

Limatation of systematic review

Answer 29

When retreving information in an academic assignment it is likely that the author may have not begun with an open mind. Narriative review does not provide information on whcih papers were included or which were left out and why.

Without this audit trail the readers cannot assess if author bias has been introduced

Question 30

Why is systematic reviews used

Answer 30

Keep up to date with the latest research

To determine whether new treatments are more effective than old ones

To determine whether existing treatments are harmful or not worth the cost of using them

Question 31

Why is systematic reviews used (part 2)

Answer 31

To underpin clinical guideline development

To inform treatment and care deicisons

To avoid wasting research resources on topics where the evidence is already clear

To support a bid for research funding to produce new evidence

Question 32

Quantitative systematic review

Answer 32

Quantitative systematic review = secondary research
Primary research of any design will involve e.g. participants, animals, cells

Quantitative system review focus on the results of primary research found in research papers

Question 33

Quantitative systematic review part 2

Answer 33

Quantitative systematic reviews only report on the results of randomised controlled trials or cohort studies e.g. a comprasion of the effectiveness of a new drug treatments against an existing one or the best method for treating wounds

Question 34

Qualitative Systematic Process : AIM?

Answer 34

The aim of this process is to assess, ask, acquire, appraise and apply.

Question 35

Stages in the systematic review process:

Answer 35

Construct a focused clinical question

PICO

Identify a search strategy

Study selection criteria and procedures

Assess the quality of the included papers

Data extraction

Meta- analysis

Question 36

What is the aim of systematic review

Answer 36

The aim of a systematic review is to find all the papers that address a specific question and they need to be located by a number of means, mostly by electronic database but other methods can be used

Question 37

Aim of identifying a search strategy

Answer 37

Maximise the number of relevant papers for evaluation whilst filtering out the irrelevant ones as efficiently as posible

Question 38

What is grey literature

Answer 38

Papers that are published in their journals comply with specific rules, models and guidelines.

Question 39

Critical appraisal tool (CAT)

Answer 39

To determine whether a study is good quality the review needs to scrutinise the paper carefully and use a critical appraisal tool (CAT)