Exam 10: Mixed Methods Research

Dr. Mix-It-Up conducted a mixed methods study whereby data generated from one-on-one interviews with university teachers about their students' behaviour in class was changed into quantitative data through frequency counting. For instance, Dr. Mix-It-Up counted the number of times that teachers used certain language in their interviews, such as "cell phones" and "Facebook" to develop a descriptive list of students' off-task behaviour during university courses. What is it called when Dr. Mix-It-Up changes qualitative data into quantitative data?

What type of data integration technique is used in the following example? The purpose of this study is to investigate how athletes use self-talk during competition. An initial thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with 15 elite athletes identified nine themes about the use of self-talk. The themes were then numerically coded to statistically examine differences between self-talk uses by sport type.

Compare and contrast side-by-side comparison and data transformation as ways to analyze quantitative and qualitative data in a mixed methods study.

A concurrent mixed methods research design occurs in two separate phases, whereby the quantitative and qualitative components are done one after the other.

How do researchers conducting a mixed methods research design decide who and how many people will participate in their study?

Mixing research methods for no good reason other than the sake of it can produce disjointed and unfocused research.

What type of mixed methods research study includes quantitative and qualitative components that are conducted at essentially the same time?

What is mixed methods research?

Define concurrent nested designs.

What are the two general ways to plan the timing of the quantitative and qualitative components within mixed methods research?

Using a visual depiction, illustrate an explanatory sequential mixed methods design and an exploratory sequential mixed methods design. Be sure to clearly label each illustration.

What type of mixed methods research design is depicted in the following example? The purpose of this study was to examine a school-based childhood obesity prevention program. Students in a grade 3 classroom were assessed on height, weight, physical activity, and eating habits before and after the delivery of a four-month classroom-based obesity prevention program. Students were invited to participate in focus groups at the start of grade 4 to reflect on their experiences in the program during the previous year.

A colleague asks you to explain whether or not mixed methods approaches are appropriate to use in research studies. What would be your response (assuming your goal is to adequately inform your colleague about mixed methods research and whether or not it is appropriate)? You should provide justification for your answer, being sure to identify the important factors to consider in making your recommendation.

What type of mixed methods research study includes quantitative and qualitative components that are given unequal priority or weighting, with one method dominating while the other is embedded within the other method?

What is changing one form of data (e.g., quantitative) into another form of data (e.g., qualitative) an example of?

What process can researchers engage in to reflect on all aspects of a research study before its implementation that might be relevant when planning how to integrate a coherent mixed methods study?

What type of mixed methods research design is depicted in the following example? Walking is a common form of physical activity among older adults. This mixed-methods study explored the environment of 71 older adults' walking routes. Objective geographic location data was obtained through an app on participants' smart phones for six months, and participants engaged in phone-based interviews on a weekly basis throughout the duration of the study. Each phone interview lasted between 20 and 45 minutes, and provided sufficient time for the participants to discuss their weekly activity, including walking experiences, environmental facilitators and barriers, and ideas for improvement. While objective geographical information (e.g., distance of route) provided some information on the types of walking routes the participants utilized, the recalled features of the environment (e.g., green space) provides strong evidence for how to improve older adults' walking routes.

What should drive researchers' decisions about when and how to integrate quantitative and qualitative components in a mixed methods study?

One option for researchers conducting a mixed methods study is to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data separately and bring the findings together after each independent analysis.

In your area of research interest, develop a research question that you could explore using a mixed methods research design.