What Is Mixed Methods Research? Definition, Guide & Examples
By Moradeke Owa
| Last updated:
Mar 15
|
12 min read
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As the world continues to evolve, we face increasingly complex problems, from climate change to global health disparities. These issues are becoming increasingly difficult to address through conventional research methods.
Mixed methods research offers a new way to tackle these challenges, by providing us with a deeper understanding of the underlying causes and effects of complex topics.
In this article, we’ll explore how mixed-method research works, and how it helps us solve real-world problems.
Mixed methods research is an effective approach to understanding complex phenomena. It combines the strengths of quantitative and qualitative methods to provide a more comprehensive and nuanced perspective.
Here is a breakdown of the pioneers of mixed-method research and how it has evolved over the years:
Mixed methods research dates back to the early 1900s, but it didn’t become widely adopted until the late 1980s. Before that, people thought that quantitative and qualitative methods were two different concepts.
Quantitative research focuses on numbers and facts, while qualitative research focuses on people’s experiences and meanings. Combining these two using mixed-method research gives you a more accurate understanding of complex concepts.
Today, Mixed methods research is widely used across different industries, such as education, health science, social science, business, etc. This is because it gives a holistic view of research findings, making them easily reproducible and accurate.
Tashakkori is one of the leading experts in mixed-methods research with his work has provided a valuable framework for understanding and conducting mixed-methods research.
He has published several books and papers on mixed methods research, including the “Foundation of mixed methods” and “Mixed Methodology: combining quantitative and qualitative research approaches.”
Creswell has established himself as a leading authority on mixed methods research. He has published several books and papers on the subject, including the groundbreaking textbook “Qualitative Inquiry: Choosing Between Five Traditions”.
Creswell’s work has contributed to the legitimization of mixed-method research as a robust and scientifically sound research approach.
Another big name in mixed methods research is Charles Teddlie. He’s co-authored several books and journals about mixed methods, including the textbook, “Foundations of Mixed Methods Research: Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches in the Social and Behavioral Sciences.” His work has helped make mixed methods research better understood and practiced across different fields.
Mixed methods research is grounded in several paradigms and philosophies, each of which offers unique insights into why mixed methods should be adopted for research processes.
Some of the most common paradigms and philosophies underlying mixed methods research include:
Pragmatism on the practical implications of things. This approach focuses on researching concepts to see how they help solve real-world problems.
Mixed methods research is compatible with pragmatism because it gives researchers the freedom to use different methods so they can determine the most effective way to solve research problems.
Triangulation uses multiple techniques to collect data on the same subject to improve the validity and robustness of the research results. Mixed methods research frequently uses triangulation to gather and analyze data from quantitative and qualitative sources.
Integration is the process of combining quantitative and qualitative data to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a phenomenon.
The purpose of mixed methods research is to bring quantitative and qualitative information together in a meaningful manner, rather than just combining them. Integration methods such as data transformation, mixed methods convergence analysis, and mixed methods modeling help you do this seamlessly.
The following are the key elements that make up mixed-method research:
Quantitative research focuses on collecting and analyzing numerical data. It helps you to collect numerical data test hypotheses, identify patterns and trends, and make predictions.
It’s like taking a photograph of a crowd: you can see who’s there and how many are there, but you can’t see what they’re thinking or how they feel.
You can perform quantitative research using surveys, questionnaires, experiments, and observations. The most common methods of analyzing quantitative analysis findings are statistical analysis, regression analysis, and factor analysis.
Qualitative research focuses on gathering and analyzing non-structural data, such as text, pictures, and audio. It looks at complex phenomena by focusing on people’s experiences and opinions.
Think of qualitative research as talking to the people in a crowd. It allows you to capture their individual experiences and points of view.
The most common methods for collecting qualitative data collection methods include interviews, focus groups, ethnography, and document analysis. You can analyze your findings using thematic analysis, discourse analysis, and grounded theory.
Quantitative research is good at identifying patterns and trends, while qualitative research is good at providing depth and understanding. Mixed method research combines these features to gain a more complete understanding of the research topic.
For example, a mixed-method study on the impact of a new teaching approach on student learning outcomes would use quantitative methods (academic performance) to measure student improvement. It would also use qualitative data (interviews and questionnaires) to gain insight into why a teaching approach is doing well or poorly.
Mixed methods research often employs triangulation which uses multiple methods to collect data on the same phenomenon. This reduces the risk of bias and ensures that the research findings are accurate and reliable.
For example, a mixed-method study on the challenges people with chronic illnesses face would track symptoms and interview their caregivers to get a better idea of what they’re going through and what they’re facing.
Mixed methods research provides several opportunities for triangulation by combining multiple techniques, sources, and viewpoints to collect and analyze data. This helps improve the accuracy and completeness of research results.
For example, in a study about student performance you can triangulate quantitative and qualitative data, data from different sources (e.g., surveys, interviews, observations), and data from different perspectives (e.g., students, teachers, parents).
Research bias is a potential problem in all types of research, but it can be particularly challenging to address in qualitative research. Mixed methods research can help to address research bias by combining quantitative and qualitative data.
For example, you can use a survey to gather data on demographic factors prone to bias, like race, gender, and income. Then, you for control bias by analyzing the data using qualitative data such as focus groups and interviews.
Mixed-method research allows you to collect and analyze data from various perspectives and methods. This allows you to gain new insights and understandings that would not be possible with either quantitative or qualitative research alone.
For instance, a mixed-method study on the school experience of students with disabilities could collect quantitative data on student performance such as grades, standardized test results, and school attendance. Combining this data with qualitative data from the students, their teachers, and their parents would give you a deeper understanding of the unique challenges and experiences of students with disabilities in school.
You need a proper design to successfully execute your mixed-method research. Here is the list of steps that will get you there:
Start by clearly defining your research questions and hypotheses. This will help you to choose the appropriate research design and data collection methods.
Also, ensure the research questions are specific, measurable, and relevant to your research goals.
There are three main types of mixed methods research designs: concurrent, sequential, and exploratory.
Sampling is the process of selecting a subset of a population to represent the entire population. When designing a mixed methods study, you have to sample both quantitatively and qualitatively.
In qualitative sampling, participants are selected based on their likelihood of providing high-quality and meaningful data. However, in quantitative sampling, participants are randomly selected or stratified to ensure that the sample is representative of the population.
You have to choose your data collection instruments; these are the tools that allow you to collect research data. Quantitative research typically uses surveys, questionnaires, and tests, while qualitative uses interviews, focus groups, and observation guides to collect data.
Data analysis is the process of organizing, summarizing, and interpreting data.
Statistical and regression analysis are the most common ways of analyzing quantitative data. Qualitative research uses different analysis methods including, thematic analysis, discourse analysis, and grounded theories.
Integration of findings is the final step in the mixed methods research process. This involves combining the quantitative and qualitative findings in a meaningful way to answer the research questions and hypotheses.
Here are the most common methods of integrating findings in mixed-method research:
Mixed methods research allows you to gain better insights into complex topics across different industries including:
Mixed methods research helps policymakers develop more effective policies and programs by giving them a deeper understanding of different topics.
For example, the findings of the mixed methods study on the effectiveness of the public health intervention on childhood obesity could be used to inform the development of other public health interventions to reduce obesity rates.
While mixed-method research is an effective approach to solving complex problems, it’s not without its limitations. Here are common mixed-method research limitations and challenges:
One of the most difficult aspects of mixed methods research is the integration of qualitative and quantitative data. This is because qualitative and quantitative data are very different in content and format.
You can integrate by using data transformation to convert qualitative data into quantitative data. You could also use convergence analysis to identify patterns and trends in both the quantitative and qualitative data.
Mixed methods studies involve collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data. This requires significant time, money, and personnel resources.
You can overcome this challenge by carefully planning the mixed methods studies by ensuring you have all the resources you need. You could also look for funding from outside sources, like the government or private foundations.
All types of research are susceptible to researcher bias, but this can be a particular challenge in mixed-methods research. This is because mixed methods research often involves collecting and analyzing data from multiple perspectives.
You can use strategies such as triangulation, peer review, and member checking to pinpoint your biases and mitigate them.
Mixed methods studies often produce a large amount of data from multiple sources, making it difficult to interpret.
One of the simplest ways to mitigate this difficulty is to use data visualization techniques such as graphs, maps, charts, and more. This makes it easier for you to identify trends and patterns in the data.
Here are some best practices to ensure you have an effective mixed-method research:
Start your research by outlining your research questions, hypotheses, research design, data collection methods, data analysis methods, and integration strategies.
Also, ensure you are very specific in your research plan. This will help you to stay on track throughout the research process and to ensure that your study is rigorous and well-structured.
Mixed method research is a very rigorous and resource-intensive research method, so having a team of researchers on board makes sure you’re collecting and analyzing data thoroughly without the same amount of stress if you were doing it alone. Having a collaborative research team also helps reduce researcher bias and generate stronger results.
Being reflexive means being aware of your own biases and limitations, while transparency means honestly reporting your research methods and findings.
One way to be more reflexive and transparent is to keep a research journal. This allows you to document your thoughts and feelings about the research process, as well as any challenges or obstacles that you encounter.
You can also seek feedback from others on your research design, data collection methods, data analysis methods, and integration strategies.
Clearly and honestly document your research by providing detailed descriptions of your data collection methods, data analysis methods, and integration strategies.
You can do this by using a mixed-methods research reporting template. This ensures you have a structure for reporting your results and avoid leaving out important information.
Dive into Experimental Research Designs: Exploring Types, Examples, and Methods
Mixed method research enables you to get a better grasp on topics that would be hard to understand using just one research method. This allows you to make accurate data-driven decisions, and it works across different fields.
However, like any other research method, mixed-method research is not without its challenges and limitations. Ensure you use the best practices in this guide to get quality data and achieve your mixed-method research goals.
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