8. Mixed methods
Mixed methods research is a procedure that enables the collecting, analyzing and integrating of data from both quantitative and qualitative methods in a single study or a series of studies to understand a research problem. The data from both types of studies should be combined or linked embedding to provide a better understanding of a research problem or issue than either research approach alone could provide.
Mixed methods may be a suitable approach for your research when different aspects of your investigation are best addressed by quantitative or qualitative approaches.
Care must be taken to consider the relationship between the different approaches to data collection and a clear relationship between the two should be established.
Mixed method approaches are that the can be useful when unexpected results arise from a prior study. They can help to deepen an understanding of quantitative findings or increase the generalisability of qualitative findings. They can also be helped for designing and validating research instruments, such as questionnaires or complex interventions that will be used in further studies.
The weaknesses of mixed method studies can be related to the complexity in setting up such studies and the need for research to acquire expertise in a range of methods. It can also be difficult to decide when to proceed in sequential designs.
Click on the headings opposite to see some of these possible study designs.
Select the method that you want to learn more about
Triangulation
In a triangulation design both quantitative and qualitative data are collected simultaneously with the aim of bringing together the strength of the two methods. The results are combined and used in comparison with one another, or to look for inter-relationships between them. They may also be combined to provide validation for the data sets by showing similar findings by different approaches. Both sets contribute equally to the overall interpretation.
Sequential Explanatory
In a sequential explanatory design, quantitative data is collected in the initial phase of the study. Following analysis of these results, qualitative data collection techniques might then be employed to provide clarification or deeper context for the results seen. Alternatively, the quantitative data analysis might be used to enable selection of suitable participants for a further in-depth qualitative study. Interpretation of the study is usually centred around the quantitative data sets.
Sequential Exploratory
In a sequential exploratory design, qualitative data collection is the initial method of data collection in order to explore a particular aspect of research. The data collected is often used to allow the development of theory or for data collection instrument creation for the following quantitative data collection phase of the study. Here, the emphasis is often on the qualitative phase of data collection with the quantitative phase providing testing or generalisation of the theory or instrument.
Embedded
In an embedded design, the emphasis for data collection is on one form of data collection and the secondary method is used to provide a useful addition to this data collection to enhance its strengths or fill a gap. Whilst the principal data collection method is often quantitative, as shown here, the approach can be used in either arrangement.