MixedMethods

ResearchProfessor Dr. Khalid Mahmood

University of the Punjab

Lahore – PAKISTAN

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Acknowledgement

This presentation has been prepared with the help of many books and presentations on the topic.

The presenter pays his sincere gratitude to all authors, professors and experts for their efforts and contributions.

Particular thanks to Professor John W. Creswell of University of Nebraska-Lincoln for his un-matched contribution on the topic.

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Agenda

Three types of research designs Qualitative vs. quantitative research Pragmatism – Philosophy behind MMR Reasons for “mixing” How methods can be mixed Planning mixed methods procedures Notations to describe MM designs 6 mixed methods designs Further readings

Three types of research designs

Qualitative research – exploring and understanding the meaning individuals or groups ascribe to a social or human problem.

Quantitative research – testing objective theories by examining the relationship among variables.

Mixed methods research – an approach to inquiry that combines or associates both qualitative and quantitative forms.

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Qualitative vs. quantitative research

Criteria Qualitative Research Quantitative Research

Purpose To understand & interpret social interactions.

To test hypotheses, look at cause & effect, & make predictions.

Group Studied Smaller & not randomly selected.

Larger & randomly selected.

Variables Study of the whole, not variables.

Specific variables studied

Type of Data Collected

Words, images, or objects. Numbers and statistics.

Form of Data Collected

Qualitative data such as open-ended responses, interviews, participant observations, field notes, & reflections.

Quantitative data based on precise measurements using structured & validated data-collection instruments.

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Criteria Qualitative Research Quantitative Research Type of Data Analysis

Identify patterns, features, themes.

Identify statistical relationships.

Objectivity and Subjectivity

Subjectivity is expected. Objectivity is critical.

Role of Researcher

Researcher & their biases may be known to participants in the study, & participant characteristics may be known to the researcher.

Researcher & their biases are not known to participants in the study, & participant characteristics are deliberately hidden from the researcher (double blind studies).

Results Particular or specialized findings that is less generalizable.

Generalizable findings that can be applied to other populations.

Scientific Method

Exploratory or bottom–up: the researcher generates a new hypothesis and theory from the data collected.

Confirmatory or top-down: the researcher tests the hypothesis and theory with the data.

Qualitative vs. quantitative research

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Criteria Qualitative Research Quantitative Research View of Human Behavior

Dynamic, situational, social, & personal.

Regular & predictable.

Most Common Research Objectives

Explore, discover, & construct. Describe, explain, & predict.

Focus Wide-angle lens; examines the breadth & depth of phenomena.

Narrow-angle lens; tests a specific hypotheses.

Nature of Observation

Study behavior in a natural environment.

Study behavior under controlled conditions; isolate causal effects.

Nature of Reality Multiple realities; subjective. Single reality; objective.

Final Report Narrative report with contextual description & direct quotations from research participants.

Statistical report with correlations, comparisons of means, & statistical significance of findings.

Qualitative vs. quantitative research

Pragmatism – Philosophy behind MMR

Arises out of actions, situations, and consequences rather than antecedent conditions.

There is a concern with applications—what works—and solutions to problems.

Instead of focusing on methods, researchers emphasize the research problem and use all approaches available to understand the problem.

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Reasons for “mixing”

The insufficient argument – either quantitative or qualitative may be insufficient by itself

Multiple angles argument – quantitative and qualitative approaches provide different “pictures”

The more-evidence-the-better argument – combined quantitative and qualitative provides more evidence

Community of practice argument – mixed methods may be the preferred approach within a scholarly community

Eager-to-learn argument – it is the latest methodology “Its intuitive” argument – it mirrors “real life”

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How methods can be mixedTypes of mixing Comments

Two types of research question. One fitting a quantitative approach and the other qualitative.

The manner in which the research questions are developed.

Preplanned (quantitative) versus participatory/emergent (qualitative).

Two types of sampling procedure. Probability versus purposive.

Two types of data collection procedures.

Surveys (quantitative) versus focus groups (qualitative).

Two types of data analysis. Numerical versus textual (or visual).

Two types of data analysis. Statistical versus thematic.

Two types of conclusions. Objective versus subjective interpretations. 10

Planning mixed methods procedures

Timing Weighting Mixing Theorizing

No Sequence

Concurrent

Equal Integrating Explicit

Sequential - Qualitative

first

Qualitative Connecting Implicit

Sequential - Quantitative

first

Quantitative Embedding

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Notations to describe MM designs

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Mixed methods designs

Sequential Explanatory Design Sequential Exploratory Design Sequential Transformative Design Concurrent Triangulation Design Concurrent Embedded Design Concurrent Transformative Design

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Sequential explanatory design

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QUANData & Results

QUANData & Results

InterpretationInterpretation

qualData & Results

qualData & ResultsFollowing up

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Sequential explanatory design: Characteristics

Viewing the study as a two-phase project Collecting quantitative data first followed by

collecting qualitative data second Typically, a greater emphasis is placed on the

quantitative data in the study Example: You first conduct a survey and then

follow up with a few individuals who answered positively to the questions through interviews

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Sequential explanatory design: When do you use it?

When you want to explain the quantitative results in more depth with qualitative data (e.g., statistical differences among groups, individuals who scored at extreme levels)

When you want to identify appropriate participants to study in more depth qualitatively

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The purpose of this two-phase, explanatory mixed methods study will be to obtain statistical, quantitative results from a sample and then follow-up with a few individuals to probe or explore those results in more depth. In the first phase, quantitative research questions or hypotheses will address the relationship or comparison of __________ (independent) and ________ (dependent) variables with ___________ (participants) at ___________(the research site). In the second phase, qualitative interviews or observations will be used to problem significant _______(quantitative results) by exploring aspects of the ________ (central phenomenon) with_______ (a few participants) at ____________ (research site).

Sequential explanatory design: Sample script

Sequential exploratory design

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QUALData & Results

QUALData & Results

quanData & Results

quanData & Results InterpretationInterpretation

Building to

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Sequential exploratory design: Characteristics Viewing the study as a two-phase project Qualitative data collection precedes quantitative

data collection Typically, greater emphasis is placed on the

qualitative data in the study Example: You collect qualitative diary entries,

analyze the data for themes, and then develop an instrument based on the themes to measure attitudes on a quantitative survey administered to a large sample.

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Sequential exploratory design: When do you use it?

To develop an instrument when one is not available (first explore, then develop instrument)

To develop a classification or typology for testing

To identify the most important variables to study quantitatively when these variable are not known

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The purpose of this two-phase, exploratory mixed methods study will be to explore participant views with the intent of using this information to develop and test an instrument with a sample from a population. The first phase will be a qualitative exploration of a _______(central phenomenon) by collecting ___________(data) from ____________ (participants) at _______ (research site). Themes from this qualitative data will then be developed into an instrument (or survey) so that the __________ (theory and research questions/hypotheses) can be tested that ________ (relate, compare) ____________ (independent variable) with __________ (dependent variable) for _________(sample of a population) at _________ (research site).

Sequential exploratory design: Sample script

Sequential transformative design

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QUAL quanSocial science theory, qualitative theory, advocacy worldview

QUAN qualSocial science theory, qualitative theory, advocacy worldview

Sequential transformative design: Characteristics

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Has two distinct data collection phases A theoretical perspective is used to guide the

study Purpose is to use methods that will best

serve the theoretical perspective of the researcher

Concurrent triangulation design

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QUANData and Results

+ QUALData and Results

Interpretation

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Concurrent triangulation design: Characteristics

Collecting both quantitative and qualitative data Collecting these data at the same time in the

research procedure Analyzing the quantitative and qualitative data

separately Comparing or combining the results of the

quantitative and qualitative analysis Example: collect survey data (quantitative) and

collect individual interviews (qualitative) and then compare the results

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Concurrent triangulation design: When is it used?

When you want to combine the advantages of quantitative (trends, large numbers, generalization) with qualitative (detail, small numbers, in-depth)

When you want to validate your quantitative findings with qualitative data

When you want to expand your quantitative findings with some open-ended qualitative data (e.g., survey with closed- and open-ended data)

Concurrent embedded design

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QUAN

qual

QUAL

quan

QUANPre-test Data & Results

QUANPre-test Data & Results

QUANPost-test

Data & Results

QUANPost-test

Data & Results

Intervention

qualProcess

qualProcess

Interpretation

Interpretation

Concurrent embedded design: Characteristics

One data collection phase during which both quantitative and qualitative data are collected (one is determined to be the primary method).

The primary method guides the project and the secondary provides a supporting role in the procedures.

The secondary method is “embedded” or “nested” within the predominant method and addresses a different question.

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The purpose of this concurrent mixed methods study is to better understand a research problem by converging both quantitative (numeric) and qualitative (text or image) data. In this approach, ___________ (quantitative instruments) will be used to measure the relationship between the ________ (independent variables) and __________ (dependent variables). At the same time in the study, the __________ (central phenomenon) will be explored using _____________ (qualitative interviews, documents, observations, visual materials) with _________ (participants) at ____________ (the research site).

Sample script for a concurrent design(Triangulation or nested)

Concurrent transformative design

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QUAN + QUAL Social science theory, qualitative theory,

advocacy worldview

QUAL Social science theory, qualitative theory,

advocacy worldview

quan

Concurrent transformative design: Characteristics

Guided by a theoretical perspective. Concurrent collection of both quantitative and

qualitative data. The design may have one method embedded in

the other so that diverse participants are given a choice in the change process of an organization.

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Further readings

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