Mixed Method Research

Introduction
These days, mixed method research has gained acceptance and
popularity in social sciences.
This type of research has evolved in response to the controversies
related to the superiority of qualitative and quantitative approaches
over each other.
Mixed method research unite theoretical and/or technical aspects of
quantitative and qualitative research within a particular study.
After the qualitative and the quantitative approaches, mixed method
research is considered as the third methodological movement.
Definition
The term mixed methods applies to research that combines alternative
approaches within a single research project. It refers to a research
strategy that crosses the boundaries of conventional paradigms of
research by deliberately combining methods drawn from different
traditions within different underlying assumptions. At its simplest, a
mixed method strategy is one that uses both qualitative and quantitative
methods.
A mixed methods study involves the collection or analysis of both
quantitative and/or qualitative data in a single study in which data are
collected concurrently or sequentially, are given a priority, and involve
the integration of the data at one or more stages in the process of
research. (Creswell et al, (2003: 212)
Features
Denscombe (2007: 108) identified three crucial features of mixed
method research.
First, it uses both quantitative and qualitative methods in a single
research project.
Second, it uses triangulation. Triangulation involves viewing
something from more than one perspective (Denscombe, 2007).
Third, it is problem driven. It focuses on different philosophical
traditions in order to create a practical value of the research findings.
 Paradigm War
The issue of whether one should use qualitative approach or quantitative
approach in a research has been an issue of debate among the researchers for
long. This debate is termed as the Paradigm War (Tashakkori, Teddlie, 2006).
It is because both of these approaches have their own advantages and
disadvantages.
Qualitative researchers find qualitative research more useful as it is more
intensive and thus it can really probe into the problem. The disadvantage of
qualitative research is that it cannot deal with a lot of variable and data.
Quantitative research is variable based but qualitative research is case based
(Corbetta, 2003: 44).
Quantitative researchers find quantitative research as more useful because it
can deal with a large amount of data and as these are hard data, mathematical
and statistical tools can be applied to analyze them.
The Need for Mixed Method Research
It is said that the base of mixed method research is the concept of
pragmatism. In many cases it is said that pragmatism is the
philosophical partner of mixed method (Denscombe, 2007: 116).
Pragmatism involves the following core ideas (Denscombe, 2007: 117):
The success of knowledge depends on its implication in solving the
practical problems.
A single scientific method cannot be treated as the best in order to
reach an indisputable knowledge.
Knowledge can never be absolute or perfect.
The Need for Mixed Method Research (contd..)
Though the debate related to the superiority of the two methods
(qualitative and quantitative) continued for long, there was no doubt
about the fact that both of these approaches have their own unique
advantages. And if these advantages are combined, the disadvantages
can be removed. That is why, these days, a different view is getting
popularity:
..we must not ignore the different assumptions of qualitative and
quantitative research approaches and that in fact, we must carefully
consider how their divergences are reconciled. (Clark, 2000: 3).
The Need for Mixed Method Research (contd..)
Denscombe (2007) mentioned that researchers use mixed method research for any
of the following reasons:
Improved Accuracy: Researchers confidence on the findings of the research
increases when findings he/she can check the findings of one method with that
of another. According to Greene et al (1989: 259) mixed method research seeks
convergence, corroboration, correspondence of results from different methods.
A More Complete Picture: A mixed method can give a better and fuller picture of
the issue under the study. Data collected from different methods can be
complementary to each other.
Compensating Strengths and Weaknesses: Every method has its own strengths
and weaknesses. The weaknesses of one method can be compensated by
applying another method that does not suffer from that particular weakness.
The Need for Mixed Method Research (contd..)
Developing the Analysis: An additional method can be used to
produce further data and it can give a better and fuller picture of the
issue under study.
An Aid to Sampling: The information generated from one method can
be used as the basis of selecting samples for another method.
Denscombe (2007: 113) gives an example on this issue: Sometimes
this involves the use of a quantitative pilot study to provide
background information that researchers use to guide their selection
of the individuals who will participate in subsequent qualitative
research involving things like focus groups and interviews.
 The Process of Mixed Method Research
Different researchers follow different strategies in applying mixed methods.
The basic issue is to combine the quantitative and the qualitative approaches
in one research project.
The strategy that is applied here is called triangulation.
According to Creswell and Miller (2000: 126) triangulation is a validity
procedure where researchers search for convergence among multiple and
different sources of information to form themes or categories in a study.
Bryman (1988: 131) mentioned that the social scientists hope to achieve a
higher level of confidence in their research findings when they are derived
from more than one method of investigation.
Generally, in mixed method research, the researchers go for a method
triangulation.
The Process of Mixed Method Research
(contd..)
Equivalent Status Design: In this strategy, both qualitative and quantitative
approaches get the same importance or equivalent status.
This can be done sequentially. That means, the researcher can first go for
doing a quantitative (QUAN) study and then a qualitative (QUAL) study
(symbolically represented as QUAN/QUAL).
Or the researcher can first go for a qualitative study and then a quantitative
study (symbolically represented as QUAL/QUAN).
Equivalent status design can also follow a parallel or simultaneous strategy.
It means both qualitative and quantitative researches can be done at the
same time in a simultaneous way (symbolically represented as
QUAL+QUANT or QUANT+QUAL).
The Process of Mixed Method Research
(contd..)
Dominant-Less Dominant Designs: In this strategy either the qualitative or
the quantitative approach gets more importance.
Like equivalent status designs it can also be done either through paralleling
or sequencing.
Sequenced dominant-less dominant designs are symbolically expressed
either as QUAL/quan (where the qualitative approach gets more
importance than the quantitative) or QUAN/qual (where the quantitative
approaches get more importance than the qualitative).
In a parallel strategy these designs can take either a QUAL+quan form
(where qualitative approach gets more importance than the quantitative)
or a QUAN+qual form (where quantitative approaches get more
importance than qualitative).
The Process of Mixed Method Research
(contd..)
Multilevel Use of Approaches: This represents the use of different
approaches in different levels (like micro level and macro level).
Denscombe (2007: 114) gives an example of multilevel use of approaches:
a multilevel design, for example, may use a QUAL approach to the study
of individual pupils in a classroom (e.g. their feelings and experiences in
relation to homework), use a QUAN approach to investigate features of
whole classes (e.g., truancy rates and exam pass rates), and complement
those with a QUAL approach looking at the history and environment of the
school (e.g. reports by school inspectors, local newspaper articles) .
These multilevel designs also can be both simultaneous and sequential.
The Problems Related to Combining Methods
On one hand, the positivists think that the measures used in the
researches are unbiased.
On the other hand, the interpretivists deal with how reality is viewed.
As a result, it can be said that, the findings of these two methods
cannot be combined.
The QUAL/QUANT combination in a mixed research is actually an
oversimplified approach .
The Problems Related to Combining Methods
(contd..)
Bazeley (2002) commented that good mixed methods research
requires a good working knowledge of the multiple methods being
used, their assumptions, analysis procedures and tools, and an ability
to understand and interpret results derived from those different
methods.
Researchers may not have the expertise to deal with quantitative and
qualitative methods together. Moreover, the readers of the
researches may also not have enough idea about both of these
approaches.
The Problems Related to Combining Methods
(contd..)
Writing up of the mixed method research can be problematic. The
literature related to different strategies of writing up of mixed method
researches is not enough. As a result, new researchers face problems
in their write-ups.
There is no doubt that mixed method researches are expensive and in
many cases, time consuming. Mixed method research needs to be
well-funded. According to Denscombe (2007: 119): The combination
of phases can extend the time-frame for research design and data
collection.
The Problems Related to Combining Methods
(contd..)
Moreover, in some cases, the findings generated from the
quantitative method may appear to be contradictory with that of the
qualitative method.
It may create problems in drawing satisfactory conclusion of the
research. Denscombe (2007: 120) commented that:
The mixed method approach, to a large degree, operates on the assumption
that findings will coincide and this will be a positive contribution to the research
project. If the findings do not coincide, however, the researcher can be faced
with a problem.
Especially in case of PhD or any other kind of dissertation research,
where time acts as a constraint, mixed method research may appear
to be problematic.