LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Understanding the Integration of Methods: Gaining knowledge of how to combine qualitative and quantitative research approaches effectively.
- Recognizing Different Research Designs: Understanding various mixed research designs, such as convergent, explanatory sequential, and exploratory sequential.
- Improved Research Validity: Learning how to increase the validity of research findings through triangulation and cross-validation of results.
- Enhanced Research Problem Solving: Developing the ability to address complex research questions using both qualitative and quantitative data.
- Application of Methodological Flexibility: Learning to apply the appropriate mixed-method design based on the research question and context for more comprehensive results.
Types of Mixed Methods Design
A
mixed methods research design, which is a complex approach, combines both
qualitative and quantitative data in a single study. This design can be
particularly functional for exploring complex research design. Moreover, a
mixed methods design is necessary to examine the relationships between
different variables. Mixed research combines qualitative and quantitative methods
to provide a richer understanding of research questions.
The common types of the mixed methods research
are as follows:
Parallel Design
Creswell (2014) outlines that
convergent is mixed methods strategy in which a researcher collects both
quantitative and qualitative data, analyzes them separately, and then compares
the results to make out if the findings substantiate or disconfirm each other.
The intent of the convergent design is to obtain different but complementary
data on the same topic (Morse, 1991) in order to best in understand the
research problem
Figure 1
Convergent parallel design (Adapted from Creswell & Clark, 2011)
Purposes
Purposes
of the convergent parallel design are to obtain a more complete understanding
from two databases, corroborate results from different. methods and compare
multiple levels within a system.
Strengths
This
design is intuitive and efficient. It combines the advantages of each form of
data with the potentialities of generalizability and information.
Challenges
Convergent
design requires substantial effort and expertise. There are issues related to
the samples and sample sizes. It is difficult to converge two sets of different
data. How to resolve discrepant results is difficult.
Explanatory
Sequential Design
Creswell
(2014) maintains that explanatory is a mixed methods approach that involves a
two- phase project in which the researcher accumulates quantitative data in the
first stage, analyzes the outcomes, and then uses the outcomes to plan or
construct into the second qualitative stage.
Figure 2
Explanatory
sequential design (Adapted from Creswell & Clark, 2011)
Purposes
Objectives
of the explanatory design are to use qualitative data to help explain
quantitative results that need further exploration and use quantitative
results to purposefully select best participants for qualitative study.
Strengths
Strengths of this design involve appealing to quantitative researchers. It is straightforward to implement two phases. It lends itself to emergent approaches.
Challenges
Explanatory
design involves two phases that require lengthy time to implement. It needs to
decide what results to follow up. It must decide criteria for selecting
participants. It needs to contact participants for a second round of data
collection.
Exploratory Sequential Design
In
this design, at first, the qualitative data are collected and analyzed, and
later quantitative data are collected and tested (Schoonenboom & Johnson, 2017; Shorten & Smith,
2017). Quantitative measures or instruments are built up after the qualitative
findings (Terrell, 2012; Wisdom & Creswell, 2013).
Figure 3
Exploratory
Sequential Design (Adapted from Creswell & Clark,
2011)
Purposes
Purposes
for the exploratory design are to first explore variables, theories, hypotheses
that are not known, develop an instrument or typology that is not available and
assess whether qualitative themes generalize to a population or not.
Strengths
It is straightforward to
design, implement, and report. Quantitative component can make the qualitative approach
more acceptable
to quantitative-biased audiences.
Researchers produce a product, such as an instrument. It lends itself to
emergent approaches.
Challenges
Exploratory
design involves two phases that require prolonged time to implement. Deciding
the qualitative findings to use for a quantitative phase is challenging. It has
a challenge to set procedures for developing a valid and reliable instrument.
Embedded Design
In
an embedded design, one technique of enquiry is done in a supportive secondary
function which facilitates researchers and readers to construct a sense of the
study in its sum. It inquires expansion, supporting, enrichment, illustration
and elucidation of the results from one method using the outcomes from the
other approach. This design holds its strength to unite the advantages of both
the quantitative data and the qualitative data (Creswell, 2012)
Figure 4
Embedded
design (Adapted from Creswell & Clark, 2011)
Purpose
Purpose
for the embedded design is to address different questions that call for different.
Methods, enhance an experiment such as by improving recruitment procedures,
examine the intervention process and explain reactions to the participation.
Strengths
This
design may require less time and fewer resources. It improves the larger design
with supplemental data. It fits a team approach well and may be able to publish
results separately. It keeps appealing to those accustomed to traditional
designs.
Challenges
Embedded
design needs expertise in primary design and mixed methods. It must specify a
decide when to collect supplemental data. Results are difficult to integrate.
It must consider treatment biasness if qualitative data are collected during
experiment
Transformative Mixed methods Design
Transformative
mixed methods design is a research design that entails collecting and analyzing
data using both qualitative and quantitative methods with the purpose of
achieving a transformative understanding of the research question, it is based
on the idea that the research process itself can be transformative, and that
the research findings can have a transformative effect on the individuals or
society being studied. The strength of this design is that it is value-oriented
and ideological (Greene 2007).
Figure 5
Transformative mixed methods design (Adapted from Creswell & Clark, 2011)
Purposes
The
purposes of the transformative mixed methods designs are to explore a
phenomenon from multiple perspectives and capture a fuller range of experiences
and perspectives, challenge dominant paradigms or develop new theories or
practices based on a more comprehensive understanding of a phenomenon, shed
light on issues of social justice and advocate for change in policies or
practices that are harmful or inequitable, facilitate dialogue and
collaboration between researchers and stakeholders, such as community members,
policy makers, or practitioners. It is a flexible and adaptive research
approach that can be used to address complex and multifaceted research
questions and promote social change.
Strengths
It is a research approach that combines qualitative and quantitative methods in a way that aims at transforming or challenging existing theories, practices, or viewpoints. It is a relatively new approach that has been applied in a variety of disciplines. Its strengths lie in providing comprehensive understanding of complex phenomena, challenging dominant paradigms and promoting social justice, facilitating dialogue and collaboration between researchers and stakeholders, and offering flexibility and adaptability: It is a flexible approach that can be adapted to fit the needs of different research questions and contexts. It allows researchers to be creative and to tailor their research design to the specific needs of their study.
Challenges
Although
it is a powerful and innovative approach, it poses the challenges like
complexity in nature, limited availability of resources, lack of familiarity,
and ethical considerations. Researchers must be mindful of these issues and
take appropriate measures to protect the welfare of participants.
Multi-Phase Mixed
Design
It is a research design that takes on collecting and
analyzing data using both qualitative and quantitative methods in multiple
phases. Its goal is to provide a more complete and accurate understanding of
the research question by collecting and analyzing data from both qualitative
and quantitative sources in multiple phases. It is to address a set of
incremental research questions that all advance one programmatic research
object (Creswell & Clark, 2011).
Figure 6
Multi-phase mixed design (Adapted from Creswell & Clark, 2011)
Purposes
Purposes
of this design are to explore and understand complex phenomena, answer research
questions that require both qualitative and quantitative data, collect and
analyze both types of data in a structured way, validate findings and increase
reliability, adapt and refine the research design and explore complex phenomena
and answer research questions that require multiple methods and perspectives.
Strengths
The
strengths of the multi-phase design are triangulation of their results,
flexibility in gaining new information, richness of data, opportunities for
iteration, and a deeper understanding of the research.
Challenges
Using the mixed methods design undergoes the challenges like complexity in combing data, limited availability of resources, ethical considerations, time consuming in data collection and analysis, and challenges in data analysis.
Reference
1.
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed
Methods Approaches.
2.
Tashakkori, A., &Teddlie, C. (2010). SAGE Handbook of Mixed Methods in
Social & Behavioral Research.
3
.Plano Clark, V. L., &Ivankova, N. V. (2015). Mixed Methods Research: A
Guide to the Field.
4.
Bergman, M. M. (Ed.). (2008). Advances in mixed methods research. Continuum
International Publishing Group.
5.Best,
J. W., & Kahn, J. (2010). Research in education (10th ed.).
Prentice Hall.
6.
Brewer, J., & Hunter, A. (1989). Multimethod research: A synthesis of
styles. Sage Publications.
7.
Bryman, A. (1988). Quantity and quality in social research. Routledge.
8.
Bryman, A. (2012). Social research methods (4th ed.). Oxford
University Press.
9. Clark, V. L. P., &Ivankova, N. V. (2016). Mixed methods research: A guide to the field. SAGE Publications.
10. Crabtree, B. F., & Miller, W. L. (1992). Doing qualitative research. Sage Publications.
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