Using A Mixed Methods Approach

Qualitative and quantitative research methods are two alternative applications for research methods. Both are very different in how data is collected, what data is collected, and how data is measured. Both of these research methods are utilized amongst the major areas of psychology and the social sciences. This paper will provide a brief description of qualitative and quantitative methods, provide the differences between the two approaches along with the terminology used for both; I will also refer to my article of choice from week one and specify which research method is used in that particular study; and finally, I will determine whether that same research study is non-experimental or experimental.

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;

The use of mixed methods is currently increasing in social science research since it emphasizes methodological pluralism, and provides a broader and more credible understanding of the research problem than the use of a single method (Tashakkori and Teddlie 2010). However, mixing methods for no good reason other than the sake of it can produce disjointed and unfocussed research, and can severely test the capabilities of researchers. I raise some cautionary issues in this paper by critiquing the methodology in the journal article titled “Researching men: the politics and possibilities of a qualitative mixed-methods approach” published by Meth and McClymont (2011).

This study will implement a mixed methods design to include both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Quantitative and qualitative research styles will both be used to increase the validity of the study, Parahoo (2006) agrees with this and describes this method as triangulation, incorporating a positivist approach. De Poy and Gitlin (2011) and Bryman (2012) agree with this and express that using a mixed methods approach gives a further comprehensive knowledge of the research method and conjoining the two can complement each other. Furthermore, Larkin et al (2014) state that the intention of mixed methods research is to improve confidence in findings, increase understanding in healthcare and ensure all groups in society are listened to. Moreover, Gelling, L (2014) found that the use of both approaches makes a great

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.

One way a mixed method is used is when the quantitative approach or qualitative approach, by itself, is inadequate to develop multiple perspectives and a complete understanding about a research problem (). It this study, the researcher want to investigate whether parental perception of the type of involvement in the EoL DMP for their child in the NICU is related to their long-term grief outcome. To me, both parental perception and long-term grief outcome contain several aspects and require further exploring. In order to obtain how the parents feel about their involvement in EoL DMP, qualitative study is suitable because it focuses on contexts and meaning of human lives and experiences.

This mixed methods study will address the retention rates among doctoral students in the online learning environment. A convergent parallel mix methods study will be used to compare and discuss similarities and differences of both quantitative and qualitative data. In this study, survey data will be used to test the conceptual framework of Tinto’s (1975, 1993) student integration model as well as Bean and Metzner’s (1985) nontraditional student attrition model. These theories predict that sociological and psychological factors may influence student persistence in online learning at the University of Florida. The qualitative data such as interviews will explore faculty perceptions of student persistence in online graduate education programs

129). As such, Johnson et al. represents the attitude among some scholars that the mixed research method is an acceptable methodological approach. Although, Thomas and James (2006) disputed mixed research as a methodology by saying, “the mistake…is to assume that qualitative inquiry can in any way share elements or end-points congruent with those of scientific inquiry” (p.779). Similarly, Smith and Heshusius (1986) have argued that qualitative and quantitative research are not compatible or complementary. Despite such criticism, the author believes the mixed research method approach adds rigor to this

This research project will focus on a mixed method, using qualitative and quantitative methods to gather and compare data. This research will include data gathered from other research,

Quantitative research is considered to be the use of numbers. In the use of a quantitative study, the researcher test objective theories by examining the conjunction among variables. The variables used can be measured on instruments, so that numbered data can be used and analyzed (Creswell, 2008). Qualitative research is mainly used to explore and understand human or social problems. The process of qualitative studies includes questions and procedures; and the data is collected byway of participant’s settings. It allows the researcher to study an issue in great detail and depth, as well as not allowing data collection to be constrained by predetermined data. Mixed methods research combines quantitative and qualitative methods and it involves philosophical assumptions. This form of study includes collecting and analyzing data from a quantitative and qualitative perspective. It is believed that mixed methods research is a great method for practicing researchers who would like to bridge the schism between quantitative and qualitative research (Onwuegbuzie & Leech, 2004a). Even though these methods are different, they all involve philosophical assumptions and distinct methods or procedures (Cresswell, 2009).

The research design for our ideal, imaginary study could be described as a mixed methods study drawing on concurrent quantitative and qualitative techniques for the collection of data and evaluation of related research questions (Gall, Gall & Borg, 2015). The quantitative portion of the study would consist of a survey with close-ended questions that allowed for the retrieval of statistical analysis and results in a numerical representation and a few open-ended questions that would elicit more elaborate answers from participants than would be possible in a close-ended format. The qualitative portion of the study would be more subjective, completely open-ended and include two separate parts. The first

One of the most important parts of establishing a research design involves the decision between quantitative and qualitative data. Each has its own strength and weaknesses that any successful research design must account for. Perhaps one of the easiest distinctions between the two rests in the sample size. While quantitative data normally involves a large n, or sample size, qualitative data involves a much smaller sample size in comparison. This smaller sample size allows qualitative researchers to focus more on each case, increasing the internal validity of the research, but limiting its external validity. Quantitative based research designs reverse this. The large sample size of quantitative data often makes it difficult for researches to establish causation among the independent and dependent variable(s). The external validly of such designs usually offsets this issue to some extent. Due to their large nature, and use of numerical data, quantitative research is much more replicable when compared to their qualitative counterparts. Unfortunately, the struggle between internal and external validity is a fundamental part of research. Even efforts to combine the two methods to form a ‘mixed methods research design’ ultimately fail to nullify the issue completely. Keeping this in mind, a quantitative analysis is the most logical given the specific research question and the data available.

The mixed methods paradigm has been defined as ‘the class of research where the re-searcher mixes or combines ‘qualitative and quantitative elements’ (Johnson and Onwug-buzie, 2004: 17).