Steps in Designing a Mixed Methods Study

Summary

This video script discusses designing mixed-methods studies, integrating quantitative and qualitative data. It highlights the increasing popularity of this approach, evident in NIH funding and research growth. The speaker outlines steps for designing such studies, including defining research questions, selecting data types, and considering integration and procedural aspects. They also discuss signs that a mixed-methods design may be unnecessary, emphasizing the importance of aligning research questions with the study's design.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Mixed-methods research is a popular approach that combines quantitative and qualitative data to understand a topic or phenomenon more deeply.
• 📈 The popularity of mixed-methods research is evident in increased NIH funding and a significant rise in related studies and dissertations over the past years.
• 🤔 Key questions to consider include whether the data merits a mixed-methods design and how to integrate different types of data at various stages of the study.
• 🚫 Signs that a mixed-methods design may not be necessary include separate data collection without integration, collecting all available data without a clear design, or focusing on multiple forms of one type of data.
• 🔄 The transformative aspect of mixed methods involves using initial quantitative results to guide subsequent qualitative phases, enhancing the overall study.
• 📝 Research questions should align with the study's design, potentially requiring mixed methods to provide further explanation or to match quantitative and qualitative results.
• 🧐 The primary intentions of the research, such as understanding relationships or causes, can influence whether a mixed-methods approach is suitable, with different focuses for quantitative and qualitative research.
• 🔄 Mixed methods can enhance experiments by adding a qualitative layer to purely numerical data, providing a more comprehensive understanding.
• 🛠️ Data collection and analysis in mixed methods must be aligned, considering the sources, setting, participants, instruments, and scales or questions used.
• 📊 Framing the study involves considering the paradigm (positivist or interpretive), theoretical lens, and ensuring alignment with the methodological approach and data collection methods.
• 📋 Choosing a design involves considering the community of scholars, personal skills, available resources, and the complexity of the design in relation to the research questions and population studied.

Q & A

What is mixed methods research?

Mixed methods research is a research approach that integrates quantitative and qualitative data into a single study. It involves combining numerical data from sources like surveys and test scores with personal experiences gathered through interviews, focus groups, or open-ended questions.

Why is mixed methods research becoming popular?

Mixed methods research is becoming popular due to its ability to provide a comprehensive understanding of a topic or phenomenon by combining the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative data. This approach is evidenced by increased funding from NIH and a significant rise in the number of mixed methods studies and dissertations published.

What are the signs that a mixed methods design might not be needed?

A mixed methods design might not be needed when data is kept separate throughout collection and analysis without any integration, when the goal is to collect all available data without a clear mixed methods design, when multiple forms of either quantitative or qualitative data are used without mixing, or when data is transformed only at the end without a clear need for mixed methods.

What are some reasons to use mixed methods research?

Mixed methods research can be used to further explain findings before administering instruments, to match quantitative and qualitative results for a deeper understanding, to enhance experiments by adding qualitative insights, to develop new instruments through qualitative feedback, or when research questions are insufficient to be answered by a single method.

How does mixed methods research differ from multi-method research?

Mixed methods research involves integrating quantitative and qualitative data at some point during the study, whereas multi-method research involves using multiple forms of either quantitative or qualitative data separately without any integration.

What are the considerations for data collection and analysis in mixed methods research?

Considerations for data collection and analysis in mixed methods research include aligning data sources, settings, participants, instruments, and scales with the research questions. It's also important to decide whether the design will be sequential or concurrent.

Can you provide an example of how a mixed methods study might be framed?

An example of framing a mixed methods study could be understanding students' motivation to enroll in an online doctoral program, where quantitative data might be used to identify correlations and qualitative data could be used to explore the nuances and personal experiences behind those correlations.

What is a sequential transformative mixed methods design?

A sequential transformative mixed methods design is an approach where one phase of the research (either quantitative or qualitative) informs the second phase. Decisions are made based on the first phase's findings to shape the subsequent data collection and analysis.

How do you choose the appropriate mixed methods design for your study?

The appropriate mixed methods design is chosen based on factors like the research community's values, the researcher's skills, available resources, and the complexity of the design. It should align with the research questions and be suitable for the population being studied.

Why is it important to be succinct when writing purpose statements in mixed methods research?

Being succinct in purpose statements is important to clearly communicate the study's intent, design, data collection methods, and rationale in a concise and easily understandable manner. This clarity aids in the reader's comprehension and the overall effectiveness of the research proposal.

What is the typical order for presenting a mixed methods research proposal?

A typical order for presenting a mixed methods research proposal includes stating the problem, theory, and philosophy guiding the investigation, the purpose of the study, rationale for collecting both types of data, specific research questions, types of analysis to be used, operational definitions, and the overall design with a flow chart or diagram.