Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research

Product Information

Primary data are data (primary sources) you directly obtained through your empirical work (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2015, p316).

Provideevidence that you incorporatedrigorinto your research. This is the quality of being thorough andaccurateand considers the logic behind your research design. Quantitative research uses numerical data (quantities) deriving,for example,from experiments, closed questions in surveys, questionnaires, structured interviewsorpublished data sets (Cottrell, 2014, p93). It normally processes and analyses thisdata using quantitative analysis techniques like tables,graphsand statistics to explore, present and examine relationships and trends within the data (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2015, p496).

Read next

Data collected from previously done research, existing research is summarised and collated to enhance the overall effectiveness of the research. Through its unique focus on design and the diverse contexts in which mixed methods research is being applied, this Handbook prepares researchersfor the changing conditions in which they will conduct studies. Newcomers and seasoned mixed methods researchers alike will find this Handbook a go-to source for tools to think and act ‘complexively’ and creatively in research design. There are several methods you can use to get primary data. To reiterate,the choice of the methods should depend on your research question/hypothesis. Interviews are useful to gain rich, qualitative information about individuals' experiences, attitudes or perspectives. With interviews you can follow up immediately on responses for clarification or further details. There are three main types of interviews:structured(following a strict pattern of questions, which expect short answers),semi-structured(following a list of questions, with the opportunity to follow up the answers with improvised questions), andunstructured(following a short list of broad questions, where the respondent can lead more the conversation) (Specht, 2019, p142). Quantitative methods can be difficult, expensive and time consuming (especially if using primary data, rather than secondary data).

A clear and comprehensive overview of research methods by Emerald Publishing. Itincludes:crowdsourcing as a research tool; mixed methods research; case study; discourse analysis; ground theory; repertory grid; ethnographic method and participant observation; interviews; focus group; action research; analysis of qualitative data; survey design; questionnaires; statistics; experiments; empirical research; literature review; secondary data and archival materials; data collection. Observational methods are useful for in-depth analyses of behaviours in people, animals, organisations, events or phenomena. They can test a theory or products in real life or simulated settings.Theygenerally a qualitative research method. In this part, provide an accurate, detailed account of the methods and procedures that were used in the study or the experiment(if applicable!). The methodology chapter should referenceyour use of quantitativeresearch, qualitativeresearchand/or mixed methods.The following is a description of each along with their advantages and disadvantages.

Sage Recommends

Experiments are useful to investigate cause and effect, when the variables can be tightly controlled. They can test a theory or hypothesis in controlled conditions. Experiments donotproveordisproveanhypothesis, instead theysupportornot supportanhypothesis. When using the empirical and inductive method it is not possible to achieve conclusive results. The results may only be valid untilfalsifiedby other experiments and observations. Questionnaires and surveys are useful to gain opinions, attitudes, preferences, understandings on certain matters. They can provide quantitative data that can be collated systematically; qualitative data, if they include opportunities for open-ended responses; or both qualitative and quantitative elements. Fetters, M. (2020). The mixed methods research workbook. (Vols. 1-0). SAGE Publications, Inc., https:// doi. org/10.4135/9781071909713 Primary sources are "first-hand" information such as raw data, statistics, interviews, surveys, law statutes and law cases. Even literary texts, pictures and films can be primary sources if they are the object of research (rather than, for example, documentaries reporting on something else, in which case they would be secondary sources). The distinction between primary and secondary sources sometimes lies on the use you make of them (Cottrell, 2014, p123). With contributions from over 80 of the biggest names and rising stars of the field, this Handbook isan essential resource for anyone interested in the contemporary, emerging, and evolving practice of mixed methods research and scholarship.

New flowcharts detail the steps involved in conducting each of the six major mixed methods designs. Exploring new and novel applications of existing mixed methods research design practices, the handbook provides comprehensive integration guidance while showcasing how design innovations inspire and contribute to investigating previously under-researched social issues and populations. Qualitative methods are good for in-depth analysis of individual people, businesses, organisations, events. Identifying the Intent of Integration and Illustrating Integration Features in Mixed Methods Procedural Diagrams Secondary data are data (primary sources) that were originally collected by someone else (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2015, p316).

Suitable when the phenomenon is relativelysimple, andcan be analysed according to identified variables. When describing your research methods, you can start by stating what kind of secondary and, if applicable, primary sources you used in your research. Explain why you chose such sources, how well they served your research, and identify possible issues encountered using these sources.

Sometimes one primary research method is not enough;thereforea mixed method isrequire, which can be even more time consuming. Fetters, Michael D. The Mixed Methods Research Workbook: Activities for Designing, Implementing, and Publishing Projects. 0 vols. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2020. Sage Research Methods, Mixed Methods Research Series, 29 Nov 2023, doi: https:// doi. org/10.4135/9781071909713. Winner of the 2020 Most Promising New Textbook Award from the Textbook & Academic Authors Association. This short video on qualitative interviews discusses best practices and covers qualitative interview design, preparation and data collection methods. If the research involves human subjects, then include a detailed description of who and how many participated along with how the participants were selected.The in-depth discussions led by theinterdisciplinary group of 11 internationally renowned editorial section leadsproject our collective thinking of mixed methods research design into the future across the following six sections: why did you choose one technique over another? What were the advantages and disadvantages of the technique you chose? Identifying a Topic, Rationale, and Potential Feasibility Issues for Conducting a Mixed Methods Research or Evaluation Project