MIXED METHODS

Alisha Chettri
Methodology for conducting research that
involves collecting, analysing and
integrating quantitative (e.g., experiments,
surveys) and qualitative (e.g., focus
groups, interviews) research

Quantitative: includes close-ended

information (e.g., rating scales,
observation checklists) INTRODUCTION
Qualitative: consists of open-ended
information gathered through
interviews

Mixing both qualitative and quantitative

the researcher gains in breadth and
depth of understanding and offsets the
weaknesses of each approach
 WHEN TO USE MIXED METHODS
LOOKING CONTINUOUSLY AT A RESEARCH QUESTION
TO ELABORATE, CLARIFY OR BUILD ON FINDINGS
FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES AND CLARIFY UNEXPECTED
FROM OTHER METHODS
FINDINGS OR CONTRADICTIONS

c d
ONE WANTS TO DEVELOP A THEORY
ONE NEEDS TO USE ONE METHOD TO ABOUT A PHENOMENON OF
INFORM ANOTHER METHOD b e INTEREST AND THEN TEST IT

ONE WANTS TO GENERALISE

a f FINDINGS FROM QUALITATIVE
VALIDATING OR CORROBORATING THE
RESULTS OBTAINED FROM OTHER RESEARCH

METHODS
 TYPES OF MIXED METHODS

a b c d

SEQUENTIAL SEQUENTIAL CONCURRENT CONCURRENT

EXPLANATORY EXPLORATORY TRIANGULATION NESTED
DESIGN DESIGN
SEQUENTIAL EXPLANATORY DESIGN
➤ Involves the collection and analysis of quantitative data followed by the collection and analysis
of qualitative data. Priority is given to quantitative data and findings are integrated during the
interpretation phase of the study

➤ Used to help explain, interpret or contextualise quantitative findings

➤ Used to examine in more detail unexpected results from a quantitative study

➤ It is easy to implement because the steps fall into clear separate steps

➤ The design is easy to describe and the results easy to report

➤ Example: Researcher collects data about the risk and benefit of social media usage using a
survey and follows up with interviews with a few individuals

SEQUENTIAL EXPLORATORY DESIGN

➤ Involves the collection and analysis of qualitative data followed by the collection and analysis of
quantitative data. Priority is given to qualitative aspect of the study and findings are integrated during the
interpretation phase of the study

➤ Used to explore a phenomenon and to expand on qualitative findings

➤ Used to test elements of an emergent theory resulting from the qualitative research
➤ Used to generalise qualitative findings to different samples to determine the distribution of a phenomenon
within a chosen population
➤ Used to develop and test a new instrument

➤ It is easy to implement because the steps fall into clear separate steps

➤ The design is easy to describe and the results easy to report

➤ Example: Researcher collects data about the risk and benefit of social media usage using interviews with
few individuals and follows up with a survey

CONCURRENT TRIANGULATION DESIGN

➤ A design where only one data collection phase is used, during which quantitative and
qualitative data collection and analysis are conducted separately yet concurrently. Equal
priority is given to both the types of research and findings are integrated during the
interpretation phase of the study

➤ Used to develop a more complete understanding of a topic or phenomenon

➤ Used to cross-validate or corroborate findings

➤ It provides well-validated and substantiated findings

➤ Data collection takes less time

➤ Example: Researcher collects data about the risk and benefit of social media usage using a
survey and also conducts interviews with a few individuals simultaneously

WEAKNESSES OF REQUIRES GREAT EFFORT

AN EXPERTISE TO
CONCURRENT a ADEQUATELY USE TWO
SEPARATE METHODS AT
TRIANGULATION THE SAME TIME

DIFFICULTY RESOLVING
b DISCREPANCIES THAT
SRISE WHILE
COMPARING RESULTS

SINCE DATA COLLECTION IS

DONE CONCURRENTLY,
c
RESULTS OF ONE METHOD
CANNOT BE INTEGRATED IN
THE OTHER METHOD
CONCURRENT NESTED DESIGN
➤ A design where only one data collection phase is used, during which a predominant method
(quantitative or qualitative) nests or embeds the other less priority method (qualitative or
quantitative). Nesting means that the embedded method addresses a different question than the
dominant method or seeks information from different levels. Data collected are mixed during
the analysis phase.

➤ Used to gain broader and in-depth perspectives on a topic

➤ Used to offset possible weaknesses inherent to the predominant method

➤ Two times of data are collected simultaneously reducing time and resources
➤ Provides a study with the advantages of both quantitative and qualitative data

➤ Example: Researcher collects data about the risk and benefit of social media usage using a
survey and also conducts interviews with a few individuals simultaneously

 The data needs to be

transformed in some way Inequality between different
methods may result in
so that both types of data
unequal evidence within the
can be integrated during study, which can be a
the analysis, which can disadvantage when
be difficult interpreting the results

WEAKNESSES OF CONCURRENT NESTED

ADVANTAGES OF MIXED METHOD
Offsets the weaknesses of both
quantitative and qualitative research

1 Provides a more complete and

comprehensive understanding of the
research problem than either
2 approaches alone

Provides an approach for developing

3 better, more context specific instruments

4 Helps to explain findings or how causal

processes work
DISADVANTAGES OF MIXED METHOD
1 2

Design can Takes more

time and
be complex
resources

3 4
Unclear how
Difficult to plan
to resolve
and implement
discrepancies