Mixed methods ( 6,9,10) Flashcards
What methodology does mixed methods fits?
This methodology fits the paradigm pragmatism.
Uses both qualitative and quantitative methods in one study.
When does mixing method occur?
The mixing could occur during data collection, data analysis or when the findings are interpreted.
Three main types of models:
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.
Advantages of mixed methods research
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
Disadvantages of mixed methods research
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.
Factors to consider
Research skills training before the study begins is essential
Length of time for each element.
What are mixed methodologies also known as
Mixed methodologies are also known as multiple, combined or blended methods research or mixed strategy or multi-strategy research
Combining of methods is also known as
Triangulation.
What is a strength of combining approaches
The research by drawing on the positive aspects of both interpretivism and positivism.
Two types of surveys
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
Surverys are
- What type of approach
- What type of data collection?
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
The advantages of surverys include:
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
The advantages of surverys include: part 2
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
The disadvantages of surverys include:
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
What is action research
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
Action research is also known as
Known as participatory, collaborative or emancipatory research
What is a strength of action research
Strength: it empowers nurses and midwives. Promotes team working, allows team members to take owernship of research
What is a limatation of action research
Limitation: implementation of change can be undertaken without the need to make it into a research study
The 1st cycle of the action research consists of four key stages:
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
Data collection in action research
Traditional data collection includes interviews, questionnaries, focus groups may be used.
What is Historical research
Involves the collection and analysis of data that can relate to people, places and events in the past
How does historical research
Begins with identification of a topic and from this research question should be developed
Limatations historical research
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
How should data be analysed in historical research
The data should be analysed in the context of social, cultural, religious, economic and polictical agenda of that time
What should the researcher do in historical research
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
What type of resources can be used in historical research
Primary & Secondary
What is systematic review?
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.
Benefits of Systematic review
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
Limatation of systematic review
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
Why is systematic reviews used
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
Why is systematic reviews used (part 2)
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
Quantitative systematic review
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
Quantitative systematic review part 2
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
Qualitative Systematic Process : AIM?
The aim of this process is to assess, ask, acquire, appraise and apply.
Stages in the systematic review process:
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
What is the aim of systematic review
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
Aim of identifying a search strategy
Maximise the number of relevant papers for evaluation whilst filtering out the irrelevant ones as efficiently as posible
What is grey literature
Papers that are published in their journals comply with specific rules, models and guidelines.
Critical appraisal tool (CAT)
To determine whether a study is good quality the review needs to scrutinise the paper carefully and use a critical appraisal tool (CAT)
