Mixed Method
- 2. MIXED METHODS • Meaning of mixed methods • Basic characteristics • Why use mixed methods? • Advantages and disadvantages • Different strategies involved • Criticism
- 3. Meaning of Mixed method • Mixing both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis in a single study • To capitalize strengths and compensate weakness • Understand complex phenomena qualitatively and explaining the phenomena through numbers, charts or basic statistical ways • Enables a more complete utilisation of data than do separate qltv and qntv
- 4. Basic Characteristics • Research design can be based on either or both perspectives • Sample sizes vary based on methods used • Data collection can involve any technique available to researchers • Interpretation is continual and can influence stages in the research process
- 5. Why Use Mixed Methods? • To complement the strengths or overcome the limitations of a single design. • To understand (quali) and explain (quanti) • To develop and test a new instrument • To serve a theoretical perspective • To address a question at different levels • To address a theoretical perspective at different levels
- 6. Advantages • Making it more easy to describe and report • Can be useful when unexpected results arise from a prior study • Helps qualitative data to make generalisations • Helps in designing and validating an instrument
- 7. Disadvantages • Very time consuming • Difficulty in resolving discrepancies between different types of data • Some designs generate unequal evidence • Can be difficult to decide when to proceed in sequential designs
- 8. Six Mixed Method Design Strategies (Cresswell, 2003) 1. Sequential Explanatory 2. Sequential Exploratory 3. Sequential Transformative 4. Concurrent Triangulation 5. Concurrent Nested 6. Concurrent Transformative
- 9. Sequential Explanatory • Collection and analysis of quantitative data followed by qualitative • To use qualitative results to assist in explaining and interpreting the findings of quantitative study
- 10. Sequential Exploratory • An initial phase of qualitative data collection and analysis followed by a phase of quantitative one • To explore a phenomenon. • Useful when developing and testing a new instrument
- 11. Sequential Transformative • Collection and analysis of either qualitative or quantitative data first • Results are integrated in the interpretation phase • It helps to employ the methods that best serve a theoretical perspective
- 12. Concurrent Triangulation • Two or more methods used to confirm, cross-validate, or corroborate findings within a study • Data collection is concurrent • To overcome a weakness in using one method with the strengths of another
- 13. Concurrent Nested • A nested approach that gives priority to one of the methods and guides the project, while another is embedded or “nested” • To address a different question than the dominant or to seek information from different levels
- 14. Concurrent Transformative • Characterised by the use of a theoretical perspective reflected in the purpose or research questions of the study to guide all methodological choices • To evaluate a theoretical perspective at different levels of analysis
- 15. Criticism • Both have different epistemological commitments • Both are different research paradigms