Uses
You are to prepare a Briefing Document that willaddress mixed methods research – what it is, why is it used, what the different strategies and design types are, and what its strengths and limitations are.
Mixed Method Research is a method for leading research that includes collecting, summarizing, analyzing and integrating quantitative as well as qualitative research. This approach is used for a sound explanation of research problem with the use of both methods (Heyvaert, et al., 2013).
Qualitative data includes an open-ended material and information that is collected by the researcher through observations, interviews and focus groups. This analysis aggregates data and information into categories of evidence and showing the variety of ideas collected during the process of data collection.
Quantitative data involves close ended information that is collected by measuring attitudes, performance instruments and behaviors. The procedure for analysis of this type of data includes statistically analyzing the results of questionnaires and checklists to test hypotheses and research questions (McKim, 2017).
By mixing both quantitative and qualitative data and research, the researcher can find the rationale and understanding of the research problem in depth with equalizing the inherent weaknesses. The main important and advantageous use of mixed method research is the probability of triangulation which means the researcher can use a number of methods to examine a single problem and phenomenon. Triangulation facilitates the researcher to identify features of an occurrence more accurately by examining it from the different point of views using different techniques and methods. A positive triangulation needs a suspicious analysis of the information collected from each method considering its weaknesses and strength (Cronholm & Hjalmarsson, 2011).
There are two strategies that can be used by the researcher at the time of carrying out research through Mixed Methods. These strategies can be described as follows:
This strategy involves the analyses of theoretical data with the help of available sources and information. In this strategy, the researcher will evaluate the data that is available in the theoretical form and not in the tabular or statistical form. It requires a vast knowledge of using qualitative data because theoretical data is a type of qualitative data which is collected from interviews, books, journals and other published data resources. It indicates the reader that the researcher has in-depth knowledge of the topic and he has used the knowledge up to an extent so that the objectives of research can be fulfilled. It includes the analysis of all information that is not numerical in nature and is related to the research topic (Denney & Tewksbury, 2013).
Strategies of using Mixed Method Research
This strategy is guided by the principles of statistics that includes the collection, analyses, and interpretation of data available in numerical form. This strategy is generally used in quantitative research methods because it includes the analyses of data collected in the statistical form (graphs, tables, figures, facts, numbers etc.). For carrying out this strategy, the researcher is required to have a depth knowledge and experience in using the quantitative method of research. This is often used in mixed method research because it helps is identifying the conclusion and results of the quantitative research (Ponto, 2015).
A researcher should have knowledge of using both types of strategies in order to carry out a successful and effective research project using mixed methods. Because separately both are easy to understand but combining the results of both strategies and then frame a conclusion accordingly is a very difficult task.
At the time of deciding the need of mixed methods designs, it is essential to consider the end purpose of research (generalization or exploration), the weaknesses and strength of all designs and the specific research question. The four most important mixed method designs are described below with their purposes, weaknesses, and strengths.
This includes collecting and analyzing the quantitative information and data monitored by the analysis and collection of qualitative data. The importance is given to quantitative information and the conclusions are combined at the interpretation stage of the research.
Strengths:
- The implementation of this design is very easy because the steps are clear and applied to individual stages.
- This design is easy to understand and describe. Also the reporting of the results is very easy.
Weaknesses:
- This design requires a considerable time duration to complete the data collection in two different and separate stages(Bowen, et al., 2017).
This design requires collection, interpretation and analysis of qualitative data is followed by quantitative data. The preference is given to the qualitative part of the research and the results are combined during the classification stage of the study.
Strengths:
- It is easy to understand and implement at all the stages of methods.
- Easy to explain the results of the report.
Weaknesses:
- It required a long time to complete the collection of required data(Berman, 20147).
This design includes the use of one data collection phase, in which qualitative and quantitative data analysis and collection are carried out separately yet simultaneously. In this strategy, equal preference is given to both types of research.
Strengths:
- It provides substantiated and well-validated findings.
- As compared to other sequential designs, a collection of data takes less time.
Weaknesses:
- In this design, the researcher is required expert knowledge and great efforts to use two different methods at the same time.
- Unclear to solve discrepancies that occur at the time of comparison of results.
- A collection of data is conducted concurrently, outcomes of one method cannot be combined with the outcomes of another method(Bentahar & Cameron, 2015).
This design includes the use of only one data collection phase, during which the principal method (qualitative or quantitative) embeds or nests another less preferable method (quantitative or qualitative method respectively). This testing indicates that the nested method discourses a different question as compared to dominant methods. The data gathered and collected from the two well-known methods are combined at the time of analyzing the project.
Strength:
- Both types of data are collected simultaneously which results in the reduction of cost and need of extra resources.
- This design provides an understanding of both qualitative and quantitative data with advantages.
Weaknesses:
- This design requires the transformation of data in the way so that both can be combined during the analyses, which is somehow difficult for the researcher(Kramer, 2011).
Inequality among various methods may result in unsatisfactory suggestions in the study, which can become a drawback at the time of interpretation of results.
Designs
Strengths:
In mixed research method, the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative research are found. Further, pictures, terms, and narratives can also be used to add meaning to numbers. In mixed methods, researchers can also use numbers to add precision to pictures, narratives, and words. Another benefit of using mixed research method is that by using this method, researchers can produce and test a stranded theory in real (Wei & Lin, 2017).
The researcher can tackle a wider and a complete variety of research questions and theories due to the fact that the work of the researcher is not limited up to the beliefs of particular research methods. One of the main strength of this method is that the researcher can use the strength of one method to overcome or to counter the weaknesses of another method of research. In other words, the mixed method is based upon the concept of complementarity.
In this method, when a researcher arrives at conclusion after conducting research, he is in the better position to deliver stronger suggestions to frame the conclusion through collaboration and conjunction of findings. Further, the mixed method of research allows the researcher to ease and simplify the conclusions and results. As this method is all about the incorporation of both methods of research (qualitative and quantitative), the researcher can generate more precise and complete knowledge that can be important and helpful to support the theory as well as the practice (Almalki, 2016).
Weaknesses:
As all methods have some weaknesses along with strengths, this method also has some shortcomings irrespective of its devastating support from the users. The use of mixed method research cannot be tackled by a single researcher. This is more difficult when the researcher has to apply two or more than two approaches simultaneously.
Further, a researcher carried out the study by using this method is required to have knowledge in depth about the multiple approaches and methods of research. This is not so easy because most of the researchers are of the view that a researcher should either work in qualitative or in the quantitative method. He must also know the fact that how these methods are mixed and used to find out the results. Along with this weakness, the mixed method of research is a time consuming and expensive method. At last, this method is the result of the mixture of two methods of research, a lot of methodologists and researchers are still working in the problems related to the interpretation of results, paradigm mixing and quantitative data (Lisle, 2011).
Mixed methods-Strengths and Limitations
Research Questions:
A researcher should firstly consider the questions that are to be answered by the study. Some research questions are required to be answered by qualitative research whereas some other are required to be conducted through quantitative method. If the topic or research questions are required to be answered with the help of both methods, then the researcher should adopt the mixed methodology of research. The best way to identify the need of this method is to consider the research methods conducted to study the similar topics or research problems.
Methods of Data Collection:
Data collection for quantitative research exists in fewer forms only whereas data from qualitative research can be collected from several different forms. A researcher should use mixed research method when there is a need for data collection from both type of sources, qualitative as well as from quantitative (Bazeley, 2015).
Collection Tools:
A researcher should consider the tools for the collection of data while selecting mixed method of research. If the researcher is not able to use the tools for the qualitative and quantitative methods, then he must avoid the selection of this method.
Knowledge and experience:
If a researcher has knowledge and experience of both the methods of research, then he should go ahead with the selection of the mixed method. But if he does not have the knowledge of any one of these methods, he should not select this method because this requires a huge and vast knowledge of both the methods. The researcher is also required to have the knowledge about the technique of mixing the conclusion and results of the both to frame a well-defined and accurate conclusion (Cameron, et al., 2015).
Availability of information:
If the information related to the research problem is available for carrying out both the research methods, then the researcher can choose the mixed method. But if the information is not able to be collected for any one of these methods, then it will be challenging for the researcher to collect and interpret the results of both methods. This is the main consideration which should be taken into account at the time of deciding the method of research (Turpin, et al., 2015).
In mixed method research, data can be analyzed by using following methods of analyzing data:
It is a research technique which is used to make effective and replicable inferences by interpreting and coding the textual material. It helps in converting the qualitative data into quantitative data by evaluating texts systematically. It is a valuable method of data analyses because it allows the researcher to examine and recover the tones of organizational behaviors, societal trends and stakeholder’s perceptions. It also acts as a support method of mixed research by connecting the purely qualitative and purely quantitative data. At one side, it allows the researcher to analyze perceptual and socio-cognitive constructs that are not easy to understand by using traditional methods of quantitative research. Another side, it also allows the researcher to collect big samples and data that are difficult to combine with purely qualitative studies (Archibald, et al., 2017).
This includes analyses of data with the help of MS Excel software. This reduces the chances of mistakes at the time of calculating and interpreting data. It has the inbuilt capacity of converting the data into the tabular form or statistical form or vice-versa. A researcher should always consider the importance of using this software especially in case of mixed method research where data collected from both methods are analyzed simultaneously (Santos, et al., 2017).
A researcher should always consider that the sources of information are reliable or not and either they can be used for the purpose of the research. This is the main factor of consideration that can result in the positive view of the reader as well as the researcher.
A researcher should consider following aspects that are to be considered at the time of writing a mixed method report:
- A researcher should first examine the basis of using the mixed method in research. It can also be understood as the need for using such methods. It will
- Understanding the numerous designs and then selecting a suitable design for the purpose of mixed method research.
- A researcher should access the skills that are required to carry out a mixed method of research. Then he is required to evaluate his own skills with the required skills. This would help him to develop required capabilities and skills for completing the project successfully(Fetters & Freshwater, 2015).
- Further, a researcher should consider the requirements specified by project management department. This would help him to prepare the report as per the requirements.
- A researcher should also consider the sources of collection of qualitative and quantitative data. Because if there are no sufficient sources available then it will be difficult to complete the research project with accuracy(Mertens, 2015).
Conclusion (Evaluation of Strengths and Weaknesses):
The mixed method of research is a widely used research technique or methods carried out by a number of researchers for the purpose of getting accuracy in the results. The methods are having a number of limitations like time-consuming, difficult to find out the sources of data, requires extensive knowledge etc. Irrespective of all these limitations, it is the most preferable method of research because it has strengths of both quantitative and qualitative methods which makes the results more reliable and accurate. The strength of method covers the weakness of another one while using the mixed method of research which is the main and most powerful advantage of using this method. However, it requires a lot of time to conduct this research but the time consumption gives better results in comparison of using any other method research. This makes it one of the most preferred methods for the research projects.
References
Almalki, S., 2016. Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Data in Mixed Methods Research—Challenges and Benefits. Journal of Education and Learning, 5(3), pp. 288-296.
Archibald, M. M., Radil, A. I., Zhang, X. & Hanson, W. E., 2017. Current Mixed Methods Practices in Qualitative Research: A Content Analysis of Leading Journals. international Journal of Qualitative Methods, 14(2), pp. 5-33.
Bazeley, P., 2015. Mixed Methods in Management Research: Implications for the Field. Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 13(1), pp. 27-35.
Bentahar, O. & Cameron, R., 2015. “Design and Implementation of a Mixed Method Research Study in Project Management. The Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 13(1), pp. 3-15.
Berman, E. A., 20147. An Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Approach to Understanding Researchers’ Data Management Practices at UVM: Integrated Findings to Develop Research Data Services. Journal of eScience Librarianship, 6(1), pp. 1-24.
Bowen, P., Rose, R. & Pilkington, A., 2017. MIXED METHODS- THEORY AND PRACTICE. SEQUENTIAL, EXPLANATORY. International Journal of Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods, 5(2), pp. 10-27.
Cameron, R., Sankaran, S. & Scales, J., 2015. Mixed Methods Use in Project Management Research. Project Management Journal, pp. 90-104.
Cronholm, S. & Hjalmarsson, A., 2011. Experiences from Sequential Use of Mixed Methods. The Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 9(2), pp. 87-95.
Denney, A. S. & Tewksbury, R., 2013. How to Write a Literature Review. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 24(2), pp. 1-17.
Fetters, M. D. & Freshwater, D., 2015. Publishing a Methodological Mixed Methods Research Article. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 9(3), pp. 203-213.
Heyvaert, M., Hannes, K., Maes, B. & Onghena, P., 2013. Critical Appraisal of Mixed Methods Studies. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 10(2), pp. 1-26.
Kramer, J. M., 2011. Using Mixed Methods to Establish the Social Validity of a Self-Report Assessment: An Illustration Using the Child Occupational Self-Assessment (COSA). Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 5(1), pp. 52-76.
Lisle, J. D., 2011. THE BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF MIXING METHODS AND METHODOLOGIES. Caribbean Curriculum, Volume 18, pp. 87-120.
McKim, C. A., 2017. The Value of Mixed Methods. Journal of Mixed Methods Research Research: A Mixed Methods Study, 11(2), pp. 202-222.
Mertens, D. M., 2015. Publishing Mixed Methods Research. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 5(1), pp. 3-6.
Ponto, J., 2015. Understanding and Evaluating Survey Research. Journal of the Advanced Practitioner Oncology, 6(2), pp. 168-171.
Santos, J. L. G. d. et al., 2017. Integrating quantitative and qualitative data in mixed methods research. Texto Contexto Enferm, 26(3), pp. 1-9.
Turpin, M. J., Asano, M. & Finlayson, M., 2015. Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Data Collection and Analysis Methods in Understanding Multiple Sclerosis Fatigue Management. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 14(2), pp. 53-68.
Wei, L. & Lin, H. H., 2017. Not a One-Size-Fits-All Methodology: A Survey of Mixed Methods. Journal of Advances in Education Research, 2(2), pp. 97-102.
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