Using a Mixed Methods Research Design

Marcia J. Scherer

Institute for Matching Person & Technology

Objectives:
(a) Identify the conditions under which a mixed methods research design is most appropriate,(b) Name at least three types of mixed methods designs, © Describe the design limitations that can be overcome by using a mixed methods approach.

Content
Many individuals conducting research have been educated in either
qualitative OR quantitative methods and rarely in how to integrate the
two in a single study. Mixed methods research is especially useful in
exploring and researching an understudied topic and discovering key
influences that can subsequently be verified through quantitative
methods and data analytic techniques. Research of this nature is
often, thus, conducted in two phases which means time needs to be
allocated for what may be a lengthy process. The benefits to this
approach, which is not a single design but can consist of a variety of
techniques, may outweigh the costs and time involved in that a broader
set of research questions can be addressed. Validity and
generalizability of research findings are limited with qualitative
studies on a small number of people but the two-phase mixed methods
approach can remedy this by verifying findings with larger numbers of
individuals. This tutorial will provide an introduction to mixed
methods design for both data collection and analysis. An example of an
exploratory, grounded theory, study using a mixed methods research
design will be discussed.