Mixed Methods Design

WHAT IS MIXED METHODS RESEARCH, WHEN IS IT USED, AND HOW DID

IT DEVELOP?

What is mixed methods research design?

A mixed methods research design is a procedure for collecting, analyzing, and mixing
both quantitative and qualitative methods in a single study or a series of studies to
understand a research problem (Creswell and Plano Clark, 2011)

Mixed method research is not simply collecting two distinct strand of research. It
consists of merging, integrating, linking, or embedding the two strands. In short, the
data are mixed in a mixed method study.

When do you conduct a mixed methods study?

Mixed methods research is a good design to use if you seek to build on the strengths
of both quantitative and qualitative data. You also conduct a mixed methods study
when one type of research (quantitative or qualitative) is not enough to address the
research problem or answer the research questions. More data is needed to extend,
elaborate or explain the first data sets.

Example 1. you may want to first explore the data qualitatively to develop an
instrument or to identify variables to test in a later quantitative study. You engage in a
mixed methods study when you want to follow up a quantitative study with a
qualitative one to obtain more detailed, specific information then can be gained from
the results of statistical tests.

Example 2. when you want to provide an alternative perspective in a study in which

the experiment yields useful information about outcomes, but the additional collection
of qualitative data develops a more in depth understanding of how the experimental
intervention actually worked.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF MIXED METHODS DESIGNS?

There are six mixed method design with the first four as the basic designs in use today
and the last two as complex designs that are becoming increasingly popular (Creswell
& Plano Clark, 2011).

1. The convergent parallel design

2. The explanatory sequential design
3. The exploratory sequential design
4. The embedded design
5. The transformative design
6. The multiphase design

The Convergent Parallel Design

 The researcher collects both the quantitative and qualitative data concurrently or
simultaneously during the study
 The researcher values both quantitative and qualitative data and sees them as
approximately equal sources of information in the study.
 The researcher compares the results from quantitative and qualitative analyses to
 determine if the two databases yield similar or dissimilar results.

Advantages
a. It combines the advantages of two form of data (quantitative data provide
generalizability where as qualitative data offer information about the context or
setting).
b. Enable a researcher to gather information that uses the best features of both
quantitative and qualitative data collections.

Disadvantages
a. How to merge the two forms of data.
b. How to assess results that diverge.

The Explanatory Sequential Design

 The researcher collects primary quantitative data and followed by the secondary
qualitative data. Researcher often present these studies in two phases.
 The researcher values quantitative data more than qualitative data. This is done
by introducing it first in the study and having it represent a major aspect of data
collection.
 The researcher use the qualitative data to refine the results from the quantitative
data. This refinements results in exploring a few typical cases, providing a key
result in more detail or following up with outlier or extreme cases.

Advantage
a. Clearly identified quantitative and qualitative parts.

Disadvantages
a. Researcher needs to determine what aspect of the quantitative results to follow up
b. Labor intensive
c. Time consuming
d. Require expertise

The Exploratory Sequential Design

 The researcher emphasizes the qualitative data more than the quantitative date.
This emphasis may occur through presenting the overarching question as an
open-ended question or discussing the qualitative results in more detail than the
quantitative results.
 The researcher presents the study in two phases with first phase involving
qualitative data collection (e.g. interviews, observation) with a small number of
individuals, followed by quantitative data collection (e.g. a survey) with a large
randomly selected number of participants.
 The researcher plans on the quantitative data to build on or explain the initial
qualitative findings. The intent of the researcher is for the quantitative data results
to refine and extend the qualitative findings by testing out an instrument or survey
developed using the qualitative findings or by testing a typology or classification
that developed from the qualitative findings. In both cases, the initial qualitative
exploration leads to detailed, generalizable results through the second quantitative
phase.
Advantages
a. It allows the researcher to identify measures actually grounded in the data
obtained from study participants.
b. The researcher can initially explore views by listening to participants rather than
approach a topic with a predetermined set of variables

Disadvantages
a. Labor intensive
b. Time consuming
c. It asks researcher to make decision about the most appropriate qualitative data to
use in the follow up quantitative phase of study.

The Embedded Design

 The researcher collects both the quantitative and qualitative data simultaneously
or sequentially.
 The researcher give priority to the major form of data collection. The secondary
form of data is used to support and provide additional information to the primary
form of data.
 The researcher uses the secondary form of data to augment or provide additional
sources of information not provided by the primary source of data. The
augmentation is to gather information that typically addresses a different question
than asked for by the primary form of data.

Advantages
a. It combines the advantages of both qualitative and quantitative data
b. The researcher can collect qualitative data, but the overall design still emphasizes
quantitative approaches.

Disadvantages
a. To be clear about the intent of the secondary database
b. The two database may not be easily compared because the data address different
research question.
c. Qualitative data may influence the outcomes of the data collection during an
experiment (strategies need to be put into place to minimize this effect)
d. Simultaneous data collection of quantitative and qualitative data may be labor
intensive for a single researcher.

The Transformative Design

 The basic designs provide the cornerstone for the tranformative design, but this
design goes beyond simply the use of the basic design.
 The researcher uses an overall orienting lens in the study as a transformative
framework. This framework shapes many aspects of the mixed method design,
such as the framing of the title, the questions, the methods, and the conclusions.
The framework basically addresses an issues for an underrepresented group and
presents research intended to bring about change for the group.
 The researcher calls for change that will address the social issue faced by the
group under study. This call may be an explicit request for changes or steps that
will be required to bring about change.
Advantage
a. It is value-based and ideological (Greene, 2007). the typical framework found in
this design are feminist, racial, ethics, disability, and gay or lesbian perspectives.

Disadvantages
a. This design is new, and scholar still learning about how to best integrate the
framework into a mixed methods study.

The Multiphase Design

 The multiphase design builds on the basic mixed method designs and adds to
these designs multiple phases or projects conducted overtime. Any phase may
have a combination of concurrent and sequential mixed methods designs. In
addition, this form of research is most amenable to large-scale funded
investigations.
 The researchers need to clearly identify projects or phases that help address a
large program objective. These researchers also need experience in large-scale
research. Team might be composed of individuals with quantitative, qualitative,
and mixed methods research skills.
 The researchers need to interrelate the different phases or projects so that they tie
together to address a common research objective. Typically, one phase or project
leads to another and in this sense the phases or project build on or inform each
other throughout the study.

Advantage
a. This design lies in the use of multiple projects to best understand an overall
program objective.

Disadvantages
a. Forming a research team that can work comfortably together given diverse
method orientations.
b. How the phases or studies would link together.
c. Having all of the studies could provide insight into an overall project objective.

WHAT ARE THE KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF MIXED METHODDESIGNS?

Mixed methods design can be distinguished from other types of designs in several
ways. The following six characteristics of mixed methods designs to be consider and
incorporate into your plan for a study. They are;
1. Provide a rationale for the design
2. Include collecting quantitative and qualitative data
3. Consider priority
4. Consider sequence
5. Match the data analysis to a design
6. Diagram the procedure

WHAT ARE THE STEPS IN CONDUCTING A MIXED METHODS STUDY?

These steps are not lockstep procedures, they provide a general guide to help you get
started.

Step 1. Determine if a mixed methods study is feasible

Step 2. Identify a rationale for mixing methods
Step 3. Identify a data collection strategy
Step 4. Develop quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods questions
Step 5. Collect quantitative and qualitative data
Step 6. Analyze data separately, concurrently or both
Step 7. Write the report as a one- or two-phase or a multiple-phase study

WHAT ARE SOM POTENTIAL ETHICAL ISSUES IN MIXED METHODS

RESEARCH?
Mertens, Hilmes, and Harris (2009) discussed about transformative research and
ethics. These issues focus on respecting individuals and underrepresented groups.
Ethics in mixed methods does not need to related to important issues arising in both
quantitative and qualitative research. Moreover, they can relate to mixed methods
designs because different types of design raise specific ethical issues that need to be
anticipated by the researcher.

Example. The sampling in a mixed methods transformative design needs to consider

the dangers of grouping all participants together in a general category that may
stereotype them. The data collection should not further marginalize groups of
participants, and the data decisions need to benefit involving community members
and be aware of the culture issues involved. The data findings need to be linked to
social action.

Ethical considerations need to attend to typical issues that surface in both forms of
inquiry.

Quantitative issue relate to obtaining permissions, protecting anonymity of

respondents, not disrupting sites, and communicating the purposes for the study.

Qualitative issue relate to conveying the purpose of the study, avoiding deceptive
practices, respecting vulnerable populations, being aware of potential power issues in
data collection, respecting indigenous cultures, not disclosing sensitive information,
and masking the identities of participants.

HOW DO YOU EVALUATE A MIXED MEHODS STUDY?

There are specific aspects that people reading, evaluating, and conducting a study
might consider. In a high-quality mixed methods study (Plano Clark & Creswell,
2010);
1. Describes the mixed methods is the best approach to answer the research
questions because neither qualitative nor quantitative is adequate as an approach.
2. Incorporates both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
3. Explicitly combines or mixed the two data sets.
4. Use rigorous quantitative and persuasive qualitative procedures of data collection
analysis
5. Uses rigorous quantitative and persuasive qualitative procedurs of data collection
analysis.
6. Frames the study within one of the mixed methods research designs.
7. Provides a diagrams of the procedures to clarify the timing, priority, and mixing
within the study.
8. Signals to the reader that the study is using mixed methods (e.g., in the title,
purpose statement, and methods sections) to indicate their awareness of this
research design.