Issues with

Mixed Methods Research

Group GGAsmah Karim 11M8140Jenny Tan Feng Ling 11M8134Norul Faizah Hj Awg Jahri 11M8136Rasidah Hj Mohamad 11M8139Tan Soon Leong 11M8073 EE-5101-F

Content

Issues: Integration of paradigm Purpose Method of data collection Data Analysis Validity/Legitimation Practicality Reporting Audience

Research Articles

Assumptions

Quantitative Qualitative

Ontological Reality is objective & singular

Reality is subjective & multiple

Epistemological

Researcher is independent from subjects

Researcher interacts with participants

Axiological Value-free & unbiased

Value-laden and biased

Rhetorical FormalImpersonal voiceQuantitative words

InformalPersonal voiceQualitative words

Methodological

Deductive processStatic design

Inductive processEmerging design

Integration of Paradigm

Creswell, 1994

Purpose

Often the purpose is not made clear.

Purpose necessitating mixed methods: Corroboration Complimentarity Development Expansion Initiation(Bazeley, 2002)

Method - Sampling

Quantitative QualitativeLarge, random Small, purposive

Statistical analysis HermeneuticStratified random or quota sampling

replaces purposive samplingThe inappropriate use of one method distorts, and potentially invalidates

the assumptions of another

Method - Triangulation

Initial conception To conduct parallel studies using

different methods to achieve the same purpose.

To provide corroborating evidence for the conclusion drawn.

Technique of validation

Used loosely as a synonym

Data Analysis – Quantitizing data

Meaning becomes fixed and single-dimensional.

Counts and proportions assume a level of scaling.

Potential disjucture between 0 and 1 in a continuous scale.

Data Analysis – Quantitizing data

Data from qualitative coding will be nominal or ordinal rather than interval

Distribution may be unknown and normality cannot be assumed.

Ignores the meaning of missing data/outliers.

Validity / Legitimation

Sample integration legitimation Making statistical generalization Meta-inference quality Population transferability

Practicality

Time and costly Knowledge of the multiple methods Their assumptions Analysis procedures Tools Ability to understand and interpret

results Disciplinary training

methodological prejudice

Reporting

Like writing qualitative research

Unlikely to follow traditional format

How best to present ideas and evidence? The degree to which quantitative and qualitative

components can or should be integrated.

A report which is disjointed and potentially repetitive.

Better to progressively unveil relevant evidence towards concluding, than to organize on the basis of method used.

Audience

Readers may be unfamiliar with either method.

The extent to which the consumers value the meta-inferences.

Research papers

Examples:

Where to post your Q?

Post your Q. in the assigned group

Q & A