Research Methodology For Adopting Mixed Method Approach

The results of article two used the mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative data. “Mixed methods research is an approach to inquiry that combines or associates both qualitative and quantitative forms. It involves philosophical assumptions, the use of qualitative and quantitative approaches, and the mixing of both approaches in a study. Thus, it is more than simply collecting and analyzing both kinds of data; it also involves the use of both approaches in tandem so that the overall strength of a study is great than either qualitative or quantitative research.” (Creswell, 2007). The authors used their research to answer their research question;

Qualitative data is not numerical and is more likely to take the form of observations or interviews. Obviously, it is very difficult to perform any statistical analysis on this kind of data. A further problem is that another researcher cannot replicate this data and therefore it is difficult to check the validity of what has been written. Researchers using this kind of data must be careful to avoid subjectivity, that is, they must avoid letting their personal beliefs or preferences affect the way they record and interpret the data. The advantage of this form of data collection is that it allows the researcher to answer open-ended questions; consequently, it is more flexible. Qualitative data also provides opportunities to explain the context of an observation and can therefore present a fuller picture (OU, 2001).

Following a critical overview of the literature, this chapter outlines the research methodology. It will provide a justification for a qualitative methodological approach and specification of methods employed. Highlighting the appropriateness of interviews and focus groups in relation to the methodology and overall research. It will also provide recognition of their relative strengths and limitations.

The social sciences employ three main types of research methodologies: qualitative research, quantitative research, and mixed-methods research. Qualitative research is a catch-all term that describes field research within social settings (Saint-Germain, 2002). It does not have a control group or require the researchers to impose variables and is not going to be sufficient to establish causation. However, qualitative research is excellent at providing descriptions of behavior. While qualitative research is descriptive, quantitative research is predictive. It makes predictions known as hypotheses, tests those hypotheses, and attempts to establish cause and effect (Xavier, 2012). Mixed-methods research, as its name implies, employs a mixture of qualitative and quantitative elements in its research design. Generally, a mixed methods approach is appropriate when a combination of quantitative and qualitative data, together, provide a better understanding of research (Fischler, 2012).

This research will be adopting the mixed method approach, as it will assist in gathering both qualitative and quantitative methods to ascertain the authenticity of information used. Any weaknesses in either of the research methods will be complemented and compensated by the other’s strength.

Qualitative research reflects the multiple ways researcher’s collect data and explore information through literature review. Participant’s review is often observed for analysis while “the role of the researcher focuses as the primary data collection instrument necessitates the identification of personal values, assumptions and biases at the outset of the study; Qualitative researchers ask at least one central question” (Creswell, 2014), which can be explored in several contexts with further questions. According to the text Research Design (2014), “the researcher’s role is typically involved

This chapter presented the research design for addressing the research questions guiding this study. This chapter detailed the design of the research. Research design, sampling process, data collection and analysis were the main aspects that were detailed. The study was conducted by making use of a questionnaire.

2. How could a mixed method research design be used to answer the PICO question that you developed at the beginning of the semester?

This chapter describes the methodology and research design of the study. The methodology describes the broad scheme or plan of the research and elaborates the tools of analysis. A methodology or a research design refers to approaches and research strategies, e.g. surveys; questionnaires etc. In a broader context methodology refers to a design whereby, the researcher selects data and analysis procedures to investigate a specific research problem (Cohen, Manion and Morrison; 2008). Research designs have been classified differently by different scholars. Some scholars (Bodgan& Biklen, 1982) discuss research methods under two broad headings: qualitative and quantitative. Gay (1987) indicates that while naturalistic researcher prefer qualitative methods, such as participant observation and in depth interviewing, rationalistic researchers tend to use quantitative methodologies such as random selection of subjects and administration of standardized instruments. While qualitative studies focus on subjective information, such as feelings, experiences or opinions: data that cannot be scientifically quantified. Quantitative research is the opposite, shunning subjectivity in favor of objectivity. Quantitative research focuses on statistics and quantifiable information.

In this proposed study, the researcher will use a mixed methods approach (Jack, Norman & Helen, 2012). Jack, Norman & Helen define a mixed method as a procedure for both quantitative and qualitative data at some stage of the research process, to understand a research problem more completely (Jack, Norman & Helen, 2012). Jack, Norman & Helen (2012) define qualitative research as “research studies that investigate the quality of relationships, activities, situations, or materials” (p. 426). In a qualitative research, people use more explanatory data, and data are collected in the form of words and description rather than numbers and statistics. A qualitative research is a method of analyzing, and interpreting data by observing what people do and say (Jack, Norman & Helen, 2012). In contrast to qualitative researches, a quantitative research is a formal, objective, systematic process in which numerical data are used to obtain information about the world (Burns & Grove, 2005). Data of the quantitative research is in numerical form such as statistics, and percentages.

Gaston, T., Short, N., Ralyea, C., & Casterline, G. (2016). Promoting patient safety: Results of a TeamSTEPPS(R) initiative. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 46(4), 201-207.

This section will address the methods used to collect, assemble and analyse data. The strategy applied to this study will be a mixed method approach, a combination of both qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative data underlines the importance of words rather than numerical findings in analysing information, which is becoming a renowned approach in the field of research (Bryman, 2012). This differs from quantitative analysis as this approach involves the collection of numerical data through experiments, close –ended questionnaires, charts, graphs and documents such as official government statistics

Methodology utilised was mixed methods research design positivism and interpretivist. In recognizing a proper methodological approach towards a social research question, consideration was given towards the predominant and consistent assumptions about the nature of reality upon which researchers seek to build knowledge. This set of assumptions guide the research process: by the formulation of the research question and the methods for collecting and analysing data (Maykut & Morehouse, 1994, chapter 2).

This chapter introduces the fundamental elements of qualitative research methods, beginning with a definition of qualitative of research, followed by discussion on the evolution of qualitative research methods and how it is different from quantitative research methods. Also discussed is the importance of ethical considerations when doing qualitative research.

Research methods should contain research questions and hypothesis, present a research design, discuss participants, instruments used, the procedure, a data analysis plan, and the sample size justification (Anon., n.d.). The research design methods should be discussed, such as whether it was quantitative, qualitative, or mixed. The quantitative method assesses the participant responses on a measure. The qualitative method is a semi-structured interview that gets transcribed. The mixed method is a mix of the quantitative and the qualitative methods.