Deck 15: Mixed Methods Research

Question 1

Pete is interested in the effectiveness of the new creative writing curriculum. He begins with interviews of teachers to assess needs and develop the curriculum. After implementation, he observes classes using the new curriculum, interviews students and teachers about their perceptions of the curriculum, and then examines end of year state-wide writing test grades. Pete's mixed methods study is best described as one that employs a(n) _____________ design.

A) multistage evaluation
B) exploratory sequential
C) explanatory sequential
D) convergent parallel

Answer 1

A

Question 2

According to your text, mixed-methods research designs

A) include both relationship questions and difference questions in the same study.
B) include both descriptive and inferential statistics in the analysis.
C) include both quantitative and qualitative data.
D) include a number of quantitative measures of student performance.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Hadasa conducted systematic observations of high school sports teams and coded displays of student athlete frustration. It appeared from these observations that coaching style might be related to athlete frustration. She conducted a self-report survey that asked student athletes to respond regarding their degree of perceived frustration and coaching style so she could conduct correlational analyses to further explore her question. Hadasa's study can best be described as a(n) _________ mixed methods design.

A) multistage evaluation
B) exploratory sequential
C) explanatory sequential
D) convergent parallel

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Tacita is interested in how teachers' classroom management practices change over time. She conducts observations of eight teachers' classrooms over the course of five years. She interviews the teachers and follows up with counts of referral data, disciplinary notes in children's files, and number of notes home per teacher per year. Tacita's design can best be described as a __________ mixed methods design.

A) convergent parallel
B) social justice
C) exploratory sequential
D) explanatory sequential

Question 5

A study that relies primarily on qualitative data and then uses quantitative data for building findings through administering a survey is referred to as a(n) _______________ mixed methods design.

A) multistage evaluation
B) exploratory sequential
C) explanatory sequential
D) convergent parallel

Question 6

Of the following, which is a characteristic of qualitative research methods?

A) Qualitative researchers employ deductive approach.
B) Qualitative researchers describe relationships.
C) Qualitative researchers focus on cause-effect relationships.
D) Qualitative researchers identify hypothesis to test.

Question 7

Which of the following is a concern regarding mixed methods studies compared to either qualitative or quantitative research? Mixed methods research

A) generally includes instrumentation that is deemed less reliable than other forms of research.
B) has greater external validity threats than are found in other forms of research.
C) requires greater understanding of a broad range of research methods than other forms of research.
D) is generally less ethical when compared to other forms of research.

Question 8

Of the following, which best illustrates an example of a mixed methods study?

A) Jenka uses interviews and observations in her study of transitional students.
B) Vanda conducts observations and supplements her findings with class grades.
C) Micky uses percentages of successful transitions from the district and class grades.
D) Svec interviews both parents and their children regarding transition.

Question 9

In convergent parallel mixed methods designs

A) the researcher equally weighs the two forms of data collection.
B) the researcher might supplement quantitative data with case vignettes.
C) the researcher might supplement qualitative data with questionnaire data.
D) the researcher might start with case studies and add census data.

Question 10

HYPERLINK "http://www.babynamesworld.com/meaning_of_Babukar.html" \o "Meaning of the name Babukar" Babukar is conducting a study on children who are suspended for bringing weapons to schools. He collects data from achievement tests, aptitude measures, and questionnaires that consider children's connection to school. He also conducts interviews with suspended children, their teachers, and their parents. He interprets these data together to decide if there is a typical profile of students who are suspended for such offenses. HYPERLINK "http://www.babynamesworld.com/meaning_of_Babukar.html" \o "Meaning of the name Babukar" Babukar is best illustrating which type of mixed methods designs?

A) Convergent parallel
B) Social justice
C) Exploratory sequential
D) Explanatory sequential

Question 11

Of the following, which best illustrates an example of a mixed methods study that addresses homework practices and student achievement?

A) Barb conducts interviews with students and parents and examines student standardized test scores.
B) Akasha collects PSAT scores, class grades, and end of year standardized test scores
C) Lee conducts observations of activities during a homework club and interviews parents, teachers, and students.
D) Kareem uses SES data collected from the school, including parents' education level, family income, and neighborhood and student test scores.

Question 12

Chris is studying computer lab culture in post-secondary schools. He goes to the local 24-hour lab and observes four times a week for an academic year. He occasionally seeks some information from those in the lab about what they are doing via informal interviews. Chris is best illustrating

A) qualitative research.
B) convergent parallel research.
C) exploratory sequential research.
D) explanatory sequential research.

Question 13

Of the following, which best illustrates an example of a mixed methods study that addresses students' selection of a major at a large land-grant university?

A) Karen uses high school grades, university grades, and scores on a career placement survey to predict students' major.
B) Jonna uses high school grades, SAT scores, and university placement exam scores to classify likely success in a given major.
C) Bonnie interviews high school students about their career aspirations and follows them through their second year of university collecting interview data every 3 months..
D) Pui-wa collects career placement survey data and conducts follow-up interviews with a portion of the respondents selected based upon their major.

Question 14

Those studies that use quantitative and qualitative methods equally and concurrently to examine a research question are referred to as which type of mixed methods designs?

A) Convergent parallel
B) Equalization prioritization
C) Exploratory sequential
D) Explanatory sequential

Question 15

Lisa is interested in how the general public feels about nanotechnology. She conducts a survey through the mail and also follows up by identifying key personnel in the community and interviewing them. Lisa's mixed methods study is best described as one that employs a(n) ____________ design.

A) social justice
B) exploratory sequential
C) explanatory sequential
D) convergent parallel

Question 16

Paola is interested in what young children pay attention to when they play online games. She uses an eye gaze measure that gives her the location and duration of what the children look at while playing, over time. She conducts interviews with children that seem to display specific patterns of behavior based upon the eye gaze data. Paola's strategy can best be described as a(n) ______________ approach to mixed methods design.

A) experimental design
B) exploratory sequential
C) explanatory sequential
D) convergent parallel

Question 17

Of the following, which is a characteristic of quantitative research methods?

A) Quantitative researchers employ an inductive approach.
B) Quantitative researchers describe relationships.
C) Quantitative researchers focus on cause-effect relationships.
D) Quantitative researchers work with a "guiding hypothesis"

Question 18

The following are characteristics that distinguish mixed methods research designs except?

A) the weight given to quantitative and qualitative data.
B) the sequence of collecting quantitative and qualitative data.
C) the analysis techniques for the two forms of data.
D) the use of quantitative and qualitative data in multiple studies.

Question 19

A study that relies primarily on quantitative data and uses qualitative data to follow up is considered an example of a(n) ___________ approach to mixed methods design.

A) convergent parallel
B) interpretation integration
C) exploratory sequential
D) explanatory sequential

Question 20

Nancy is studying after-school programs that are housed in the district's school buildings. She interviews staff, students, and parents, observes programs, and reviews school board documents that illustrate how the after-school programs developed. She then administered a survey to enrolled children that rated satisfaction with their program in order to generalize her findings. Which type of research design does Nancy's study illustrate?

A) Qualitative
B) Quantitative
C) Exploratory sequential
D) Explanatory sequential

Question 21

The following are good places to look to identify a mixed methods study except

A) the study title.
B) the literature review.
C) the purpose statement.
D) the method section.

Question 22

Which one of the following is an advantage of using a mixed methods design in an educational research study?

A) The weaknesses of quantitative data are offset by the advantages of qualitative data.
B) Mixing different forms of data suggests that the researcher knows multiple forms of research.
C) Faculty committee members on a student's committee may not be familiar with qualitative research.
D) The use of two forms of data provides a complete picture of the databases.

Question 23

When evaluating a mixed methods study, which of the following questions is most important to ask?

A) What is the researcher's training in mixed methods research?
B) How large was the sample size for the qualitative data collection?
C) Does the stud use both quantitative and qualitative data analysis appropriately?.
D) What was the overarching framework for the study?

Question 24

The most best way to differentiate between a basic and advanced design is

A) the addition of another phase.
B) the number of qualitative methods
C) the use of an overarching framework.
D) the weight given to phases of data collection.

Question 25

When researchers obtain themes and specific statements from individuals to create new scales and items for questionnaires, they are said to be employing a(n) ________________ mixed methods research design.

A) convergent parallel
B) instrumental
C) exploratory sequential
D) explanatory sequential

Question 26

When researchers use qualitative methods to follow up on outliers or extreme cases based upon their quantitative data, they are employing a(n) __________ mixed methods research design.

A) convergent parallel
B) interpretation
C) exploratory sequential
D) explanatory sequential

Question 27

For classification purposes, the primary differences among mixed-methods designs as presented in your text, relate to all of the following EXCEPT

A) data analysis
B) sequence
C) interpretation
D) weight

Question 28

Jordon conducts interviews and observations at several residential camps. She finds that the first-time camping experience seems to vary considerably based upon birth order. She uses birth-order as a nominal variable as she analyzes her satisfaction survey results. Jordon is best displaying which type of mixed-methods designs?

A) Convergent parallel
B) Explanatory sequential
C) Exploratory sequential
D) Social justice

Question 29

Dalina, a mixed methods researcher, first identifies the purpose of the study she will conduct. Next she will

A) state the design of the study.
B) state the research questions.
C) determine which data will have more weight.
D) begin to collect initial data.

Question 30

Roy collected test data and open-ended questionnaire data when studying Native American students rates of college enrollment. One of Roy's purposes in conducting the study is to bring attention to disparities in college entrance for Native Americans. Roy's approach best illustrates which mixed methods design?

A) Convergent parallel
B) Explanatory sequential
C) Exploratory sequential
D) Social justice

Question 31

Brenda studies first-generation college students. She uses institutional data that tracks these students from high-school into college until subsequent drop-out or graduation. She uses their student grades, major, and inventories of their feelings of success and attitudes about college. She then interviews a select number of the students to better understand the results. What is the notation for Brenda's study?

A) QUAN + QUAL
B) qual + QUAN
C) QUAL  quan
D) QUAN  qual

Question 32

QUAL  quan represents which of the mixed methods designs?

A) Convergent parallel
B) Experimental
C) Exploratory sequential
D) Explanatory sequential

Question 33

Which of the following research questions best fits the convergent parallel design?

A) Is the instrument we develop in the second phase (as a result of exploring in the first phase) a better instrument that those available to measure the variables?
B) How do the quantitative and qualitative databases compare and present consistent findings or diverge and show contradictory findings?
C) How does the qualitative follow up data help us to better understand the quantitative first phase results?
D) How can the social issue be better addressed using results from both quantitative and qualitative findings?"

Question 34

Ms. Crabtree is conducting a study that examines time in rank for university professors of Higher Education at teaching colleges. She collects institutional data from a sample of teaching colleges in the Mid-Western United States. She follows that up with interviews of representative Deans, department heads, and program directors. Her sampling for the interviews should involve

A) purposive sampling from a new set of participants.
B) all participants from the quantitative phase.
C) random sampling of participants from the quantitative phase.
D) purposive sampling of participants from the quantitative phase.

Question 35

Jane proposes a study to her adviser. She explained that she intends to investigate college students' perception of student affairs and wants to use a mixed methods design. What would her adviser most likely ask her to consider first?

A) Develop a proposal for the IRB
B) Prepare a sampling plan for her mixed methods study
C) Identify a rationale for using a mixed methods research design
D) Begin with initial data collection

Question 36

Which one of the following is the best justification for why you might use mixed methods research as your design? There is need to

A) converge two forms of qualitative data to better understand a trait.
B) converge quantitative and qualitative data to better understand a problem.
C) keep quantitative and qualitative data separate within a study.
D) test the quantitative interpretations using qualitative data.

Question 37

Mechteld is primarily interested in strategies that increase students' interest and achievement in mathematics. She begins with interviews of students. Based on those qualitative findings, she then develops an interest questionnaire. Mechteld's sampling for the questionnaire should involve

A) purposive sampling from a new set of participants from the same population.
B) all participants from the qualitative phase.
C) random sampling from a new set of participants from the same population.
D) purposive sampling of participants from the qualitative phase.

Question 38

In the wake of a recent school violence incident, Laura studied people's reactions at the school through the simultaneous use of observations, interviews, and surveys, and examined the similarities and differences of these datasets. The notation for Laura's research design is

A) QUAL.
B) QUAN + QUAL.
C) QUAL  quan.
D) QUAN  qual.