Mixed Methods Research PDF

Lecture 12 – Mixed Methods Mixed methods research is a research involving the collection, analysis, and integration of both qualitative and quantitative data within a study or series of studies When to use Qualitative – better understanding of a phenomenon required, understanding of lived experien...

Lecture 12 – Mixed Methods Mixed methods research is a research involving the collection, analysis, and integration of both qualitative and quantitative data within a study or series of studies When to use Qualitative – better understanding of a phenomenon required, understanding of lived experience required, when values, subjectivism, and richness of context are important. Quantitative – Specific quantification of data, numbers required (prevalence rates), explore large number of variables efficiently (survey), specific hypothesis or intervention to be tested, want to generalize to larger group(s) Relative Disadvantages Qualitative – Personal interpretation by researchers, finding not generalizable beyond study participants, rigor, validity, and reliability Quantitative – Unknow (or limited) context and setting in which participants provide data, participant’s voice are not directly heard, researcher in background, his/her biases not discussed Why used Mixed methods research? Research questions drives methods used – how so Emergent research approach in health-related research, (may) provide a more complete picture of phenomenon, answering different research questions that cannot be answered by solely one method, triangulation – greater validity in seeking corroboration between data sources Mixed Methods involves combining or integration of qualitative and quantitative research and data in a research study” (Creswell, 2014), Inductive research--primarily qualitative, Deductive--primarily quantitative Inductive reasoning – Details to general picture, foundation of most qual research, theory generating Deductive reasoning – general picture to specific explanations, foundation of most quan research, theory testing Important Can mix methods, do not mix paradigms Mixed Methods Considerations Controversy surrounds the appropriateness of combining qualitative and quantitative approaches and methods, trojan horse for post-positivism (tend to favour forms of analysis associated with positivism) Pragmatists believe that the research question should have the greatest importance and drive the study, not a method or paradigm Mixed Methods Studies How – within one study or across a program of research Why – Provides more comprehensive evidence, richer perspective, answers questions qual or quan alone could not, encourages collaboration, efficient use of time, resources Examples of application of Mixed Methods Instrument development - gather qualitative data as the basis for developing formal instruments. Intervention development - development of promising nursing interventions that are then rigorously tested for efficacy. Generating hypotheses - insights from qualitative studies can then be tested and confirmed with larger samples in quantitative studies. Theory building and testing - use of multiple methods provides opportunity for potential disconfirmation of a theory. Explication - Qualitative data are sometimes used to explicate (broaden) the meaning of quantitative descriptions or relationships. Real Examples Medication errors in nursing, you all will make medication errors - it is a reality, it is a systems issue as much as it is an individual issue, lots of work completed in this area, and it is a prime example of mixed methods research