Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research

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Fetters, Michael D. The Mixed Methods Research Workbook: Activities for Designing, Implementing, and Publishing Projects. 0 vols. Mixed Methods Research Series. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2020. https:// doi. org/10.4135/9781071909713. Sometimes one primary research method is not enough;thereforea mixed method isrequire, which can be even more time consuming. Secondary data are data (primary sources) that were originally collected by someone else (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2015, p316).

Interviews are useful to gain rich, qualitative information about individuals' experiences, attitudes or perspectives. With interviews you can follow up immediately on responses for clarification or further details. There are three main types of interviews:structured(following a strict pattern of questions, which expect short answers),semi-structured(following a list of questions, with the opportunity to follow up the answers with improvised questions), andunstructured(following a short list of broad questions, where the respondent can lead more the conversation) (Specht, 2019, p142). An example of a mixed method dissertation outline is now included in the set of guidelines for reporting mixed methods research in a proposal, dissertation, or journal article.

When undertakingmixed-methodsresearch you can collect the qualitative and quantitative data either concurrently or sequentially. If sequentially, you can for example,start with a few semi-structured interviews, providing qualitative insights, and then design a questionnaire to obtain quantitative evidence that your qualitative findings can also apply to a wider population (Specht, 2019, p138). why did you choose one technique over another? What were the advantages and disadvantages of the technique you chose? Fetters, M., 2020. The Mixed Methods Research Workbook: Activities for Designing, Implementing, and Publishing Projects. Mixed Methods Research Series. Vol. 0. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc. Available at: [Accessed 29 Nov 2023]. Describe all materials used for the study, including equipment, written materials and testing instruments. New flowcharts detail the steps involved in conducting each of the six major mixed methods designs.

There are several methods you can use to get primary data. To reiterate,the choice of the methods should depend on your research question/hypothesis.With contributions from over 80 of the biggest names and rising stars of the field, this Handbook isan essential resource for anyone interested in the contemporary, emerging, and evolving practice of mixed methods research and scholarship. Qualitative methods are good for in-depth analysis of individual people, businesses, organisations, events. The study can be undertaken on a broader scale, generating large amounts of data that contribute to generalisation of results Winner of the 2020 Most Promising New Textbook Award from the Textbook & Academic Authors Association.

The in-depth discussions led by theinterdisciplinary group of 11 internationally renowned editorial section leadsproject our collective thinking of mixed methods research design into the future across the following six sections: There is some confusion on the use of thetermsprimary and secondary sources, and primary and secondary data. The confusion is also due to disciplinary differences (Lombard 2010). Whilst you are advised to consult the research methods literature in your field, we can generalise as follows: Primary sources are "first-hand" information such as raw data, statistics, interviews, surveys, law statutes and law cases. Even literary texts, pictures and films can be primary sources if they are the object of research (rather than, for example, documentaries reporting on something else, in which case they would be secondary sources). The distinction between primary and secondary sources sometimes lies on the use you make of them (Cottrell, 2014, p123). Questionnaires and surveys are useful to gain opinions, attitudes, preferences, understandings on certain matters. They can provide quantitative data that can be collated systematically; qualitative data, if they include opportunities for open-ended responses; or both qualitative and quantitative elements. Often, especially at the postgraduate level, it will also useprimary sources- secondary and/or primary data. The engagement with primary sources is generally appreciated, as less reliant on others' interpretations, and closer to 'facts'.In this part, provide an accurate, detailed account of the methods and procedures that were used in the study or the experiment(if applicable!). Observational methods are useful for in-depth analyses of behaviours in people, animals, organisations, events or phenomena. They can test a theory or products in real life or simulated settings.Theygenerally a qualitative research method. Examples: data available via the internet, non-government and government agencies, public libraries, educational institutions, commercial/business information