Deck 19: Mixed Methods Research: Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

Question 1

By definition, 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 1

C

Question 2

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.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Rich is studying social competencies of hearing-impaired children. He selects five children that he studies through observation in multiple contexts, including their classrooms, their extra-curricular activities, and their family life. Rich is best illustrating

A) qualitative research.
B) QUAN-QUAL research.
C) QUAN-qual research.
D) QUAL-quan research.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Tacita is interested in how teachers' classroom management practices change over time. She conducts observations of 8 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 study is also an example of a _______ research design.

A) QUAN-QUAL
B) QUAN-qual
C) QUAL-quan
D) Quantitative

Question 5

In QUAN-QUAL research 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 6

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 7

Pete is interested in the effectiveness of the new creative writing curriculum. 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 an) _____________ design.

A) triangulation
B) interpretation
C) exploratory
D) explanatory

Question 8

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) QUAL-QUAN research.
C) QUAN-qual research.
D) QUAL-quan research.

Question 9

Paola is interested in what young children pay attention to when they play online games. She uses an eyegaze 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 eyegaze data. Paola's strategy can best be described as an) ______________ approach to mixed methods design.

A) interpretation
B) exploratory
C) explanatory
D) triangulation

Question 10

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

A) triangulation
B) interpretation
C) exploratory
D) explanatory

Question 11

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

A) Triangulation
B) Interpretation
C) Exploratory
D) Explanatory

Question 12

Tacita is interested in how teachers' classroom management practices change over time. She conducts observations of 8 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) triangulation
B) interpretation
C) exploratory
D) explanatory

Question 13

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 14

Of the following, which best illustrates an example of a mixed-methods study that addresses 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 15

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 16

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 an) ____________ design.

A) triangulation
B) interpretation
C) exploratory
D) explanatory

Question 17

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 also administered a survey to enrolled children that rated satisfaction with their program. Which type of research does Nancy's study illustrate?

A) Qualitative research
B) Quantitative research
C) QUAL-quan research
D) QUAN-qual research

Question 18

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 an) _________ mixed-methods design.

A) exploratory
B) interpretation
C) triangulation
D) explanatory

Question 19

A study that relies primarily on qualitative data and uses quantitative data for building is referred to as an) _______________ mixed-methods design.

A) triangulation
B) interpretation
C) exploratory
D) explanatory

Question 20

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 21

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

A) triangulation.
B) interpretation.
C) exploratory.
D) explanatory.

Question 22

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. Ms. Crabtree's study can best be described as

A) Quantitative
B) Qualitative
C) Mixed-methods
D) Multi-level

Question 23

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 triangulated these data. Laura's research is best classified as

A) qualitative.
B) QUAN-QUAL.
C) QUAL- quan.
D) QUAN-qual.

Question 24

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 also interviews a select number of the students. Brenda's study is best described as a _____________ study.

A) QUAN-QUAL
B) quantitative
C) QUAL- quan
D) QUAN-qual

Question 25

The QUAL-quan model of mixed methods design is also known as

A) triangulation.
B) interpretation.
C) exploratory.
D) explanatory.

Question 26

The QUAN-QUAL model of mixed methods design is also known as

A) triangulation.
B) interpretation.
C) exploratory.
D) explanatory.

Question 27

Marci has collected qualitative data and survey data. She codes the qualitative data and quantifies it and then compares these data to her survey data. Marci is best displaying which type of mixed-methods design?

A) Triangulation
B) Explanatory
C) Exploratory
D) Descriptive

Question 28

Mekeal collected achievement data and open-ended questionnaire data. He coded the qualitative questionnaire data and used the themes to explain some differences in the achievement data. Mekeal's approach best illustrates a

A) quantitative study.
B) QUAN-QUAL study.
C) QUAL-quan study.
D) QUAN-qual study.

Question 29

Marcy is interested in the achievement of low-SES high achieving females in rural school districts. She uses measures of achievement in her analysis and tracks the students' grades from middle school to high school graduation. Marcy's study is an example of ______________ research.

A) QUAN-QUAL
B) quantitative
C) QUAL- quan
D) QUAN-qual

Question 30

Roshia combines her qualitative and quantitative data for her study on the relationship between extra-curricular activities and high-school students' mental health. In her study she conducted a test to screen students based upon their mental health. She also surveyed participants regarding their extra-curricular activities. Roshia then conducted surveys with those individuals who were involved in extracurricular activities and displayed some mental health concerns. Roshia's mixed-methods study is best categorized as a

A) quantitative study.
B) QUAN-QUAL study.
C) QUAL-quan study.
D) QUAN-qual study.

Question 31

When researchers follow up on outliers or extreme cases with qualitative methods based upon their quantitative data, they are employing an) __________ approach to mixed-methods research.

A) triangulation.
B) interpretation.
C) exploratory.
D) explanatory.

Question 32

In a study that examined the high-stakes assessment practices of school districts, Maria first examined scores on the state assessment and then selected cases based upon sound practices and conducted in-depth interviews at these district sites. This study best illustrates which of the following approaches to research?

A) Quantitative
B) Qualitative
C) Experimental
D) Mixed-methods

Question 33

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 to decide if there is a typical profile of students who are suspended for such offenses. HYPERLINK Babukar is best illustrating which type of mixed methods designs?

A) Triangulation
B) Exploratory
C) Explanatory
D) QUAL-quan

Question 34

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

A) Data analysis
B) Sequence
C) Interpretation
D) Priority

Question 35

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) Triangulation
B) Explanatory
C) Exploratory
D) Descriptive

Question 36

Jesa is conducting a study that examines the way that school board members make decisions. She attends and observes a number of school board meetings. After each, she follows up with key personnel using informal interviews based upon her observations at the meetings. She develops key themes that she thinks describe the different factors that go into members' decision-making. She then generates a survey that includes these factors and asks participants to rate the relative importance of each of these factors. Jesa's study could best be described as

A) QUAN-QUAL.
B) Explanatory.
C) QUAN-qual.
D) Exploratory.

Question 37

Sevil found through his study of college bound students that some high achieving female mathematics students elect to pursue mathematics related fields and others do not consider such fields. He conducts follow-up interviews with some of the young women that are, and some that are not, pursuing mathematics degrees. Sevil is best displaying which type of mixed-methods design?

A) Triangulation
B) Explanatory
C) Exploratory
D) Descriptive

Question 38

Missy examined the correspondence between districts indicators of social economic status and number of foreign language courses offered. Her study can best be described as

A) Quantitative.
B) Qualitative.
C) Mixed-methods.
D) Experimental.

Question 39

Caelan is interested in the trading card culture in elementary schools. He has noticed that many children go through a phase of playing with and trading cards with their peers. He decides to more systematically observe children's behaviors while they are given free time. His study will be primarily observational although he may conduct follow up informal interviews with the children and their teachers. Caelan's study is best described as a ___________ design study.

A) qualitative
B) quantitative
C) QUAL-quan
D) QUAN-qual

Question 40

The QUAN-qual model of mixed methods design is also known as

A) triangulation.
B) interpretation.
C) exploratory.
D) explanatory.

Question 41

Lorrie is conducting a study that examines the benefits of gardening for stress. She surveys community garden members regarding garden activities and administers a self-report stress and anxiety questionnaire. She then interviews those who fit her profiles of the 2 x 2 matrix of gardening and stress. Lorrie's study can best be described as

A) Qualitative
B) Experimental
C) QUAN-QUAL
D) Correlatoinal

Question 42

Ron relies on observations and interviews to explore questions of the experience of participation in a track and field meet. His study can best be described as

A) Quantitative
B) Qualitative
C) Mixed-methods
D) Multi-level

Question 43

Mechteld is primarily interested in strategies that increase students' interest and achievement in mathematics. She administers interest questionnaires and correlates them with mathematics achievement. She then does a few follow up interviews with those who do not have high interest but do have high achievement. Mechteld's study is best classified as

A) QUAN-qual
B) QUAN-QUAL
C) Quan-QUAL
D) Quantitative