Module 12: Mixed Methods Research

Question 1

What is mixed methods research?

Answer 1

Research in which the investigators collect and analyze data, integrate the findings, and draw inferences using both quantitative and qualitative studies

Question 2

What is a conclusion generated by integrated inferences obtained from results of the qualitative and quantitative strands of a MM study?

Answer 2

Meta-inference

Question 3

What are some advantages to MM research?

Answer 3

Complementarity 
Practicality 
Incrementally 
Enhanced validity 
Collaboration

Question 4

When conducting a MM study what three key decisions need to be made?

Answer 4

1. Priority- method emphasis
2. Sequence or Timing- data collection
3. Integration- method combination

Question 5

What types of sequence/timing an be used in MM approach?

Answer 5

Sequential- no collected at the same time
Concurrent- simultaneous collection
Mixed- combination

Question 6

——-> represents what?

Answer 6

Sequential study, phase 1 and phase 2

Question 7

+ represents what?

Answer 7

Concurrent study, quant and qual data collected at the same time

Question 8

How can you tell which strand of study is the dominant strand?

Answer 8

All capital letters

Question 9

What notation denotes that the study is embedded

Answer 9

( ) ex- QUANT(qual), dominant quantitative method with embedded qualitative method

Question 10

What does QUANT —-> QUAL represent?

Answer 10

Sequential design, both methods equally dominant

Question 11

What is true of sequential data collection in MM research?

Answer 11

Decisions about data collection for the second phase of the study are based on findings from the first phase

Question 12

MM designs include: (3)

Answer 12

1. Convergent
2. Explanatory
3. Exploratory

Question 13

What is a convergent design?

Answer 13

(triangulation design)
Obtain different but complementary data about the central phenomena under study. Simultaneous collection of quant and qual data with equal priority
(usu. multiple researcher)

Question 14

What is an explanatory design?

Answer 14

Sequential design with quantitative data collected in the first phase and qualitative data collected in the second phase. Either approach could be given priority.
Ex- quantitative data surprising, qualitative follow up

Question 15

What is an exploratory design?

Answer 15

Sequential but qualitative data is collected first and then quantitative date. Either approach could be given priority Ex- initial in depth exploration of phenomena

Question 16

Which is a MM approach used?

Answer 16

When neither quant nor qual research alone could answer research questions

Question 17

Four types of sampling used in MM research are:

Answer 17

1. identical
2. nested
3. parallel
4. multilevel

Question 18

What is identical sampling?

Answer 18

The same participants are used in both strands of the study

Question 19

What is nested sampling?

Answer 19

Some participants from one strand are used in the other (usually participants in qual strand are a subset of those used in quant strand)

Question 20

What is parallel sampling?

Answer 20

Two completely different samples from a similar population

Question 21

What is multilevel sampling?

Answer 21

Sampling from different levels of a hierarchy (ex- hospital admin, clinical staff, patients)

Question 22

A key to MM research is that data analysis and interpretation must be ________

Answer 22

Integrated

Question 23

What is it called when rich, descriptive qualitative data from focus groups shows patterns which are tallied and counted?

Answer 23

Quantitizing

Question 24

Qualitative strand sampling is usually ________.

Answer 24

purposive

Question 25

What can be described as the degree to which conclusions can be generalized to similar population, context, etc.

Answer 25

Inference transferability

Question 26

What from quant and qual strands are integrated to increase inference transferability in MM research

Answer 26

Qual: Transferability
Quant: External validity

Question 27

Internal validity and statistical conclusions from quantitative data and credibility of qualitative date increase:

Answer 27

Inference quality