Name: Zeeshan Mushtaq

Roll Number: 213542608

RESEARCH METHODS

SUMMARY (Mixed Methods Research)

● There are three types of research designs: qualitative research, quantitative

research, and mix methods research.

● Qualitative method is used to understand people's beliefs, experiences, attitudes,

behavior, and interactions whereas Quantitative methods focus on the
relationship among variables.

● A combination of qualitative and quantitative research conducted is called mixed

methods research.

● Usually, when conducting research, the researcher is more focused on the

research itself rather than its approach. So he/she uses all approaches to
understand the problem.

● The reasons to apply mixed method research can be multiple. It all depends on
the nature of the problem if it requires a deeper investigation from all angles.

● Mixed methods research contains both qualitative and quantitative data including
its analysis. These two forms of data are then integrated to produce results.

● The selection of the method to apply to a research problem depends on the

analysis of the problem statement. If a mixed-method approach is used, the
researcher has to decide how the combination of qualitative and quantitative
approaches will pan out.

● Now there are various methods to mix these two different approaches, for
example, one method can be used to validate the other method or one method
 (either qualitative or quantitative) can be used to build results of other methods,
etc. In short, the method varies from one question to another.

● The biggest advantage of using a mixed-method approach is that provides

strengths that offset the weaknesses of both quantitative and qualitative
research. However, it all depends on how these two methods were applied.
Although there is no optimal method of combining two research methods, the
right combination would provide better results.

● The disadvantage of this approach can be that research design can be very
complex and utilizes more resources. Also, combining the two methods can be
quite challenging

● The four major mixed methods design are sequential explanatory design,
sequential exploratory design, concurrent triangulation, and concurrent nested.

● In sequential explanatory design, the researcher first collects data using a

quantitative approach, analyzes the results then uses the results to build the
second quantitative phase. In short, qualitative data is used to explain the initial
quantitative results.

● The strength of this approach is that it is easier to implement because the steps
fall into clear separate stages, however, it takes a lot of time to complete all data
collection given the two separate phases.

● In sequential exploratory design, its the opposite. The researcher first collects the
data using a qualitative approach and the results are used to build the analysis
with a quantitative approach. Here data collection occurs in two-phase one in
qualitative and the other in quantitative. However, the priority is given to the
qualitative aspect of the study, and the findings are integrated during the
interpretation phase of the study.

● The strengths and weaknesses of this approach are similar to the explanatory
approach.

● In a concurrent triangulation approach, data is collected using only one approach

either quantitative or qualitative but the analysis is carried out using both
approaches concurrently. The findings are integrated during the interpretation
phase of the study.
● When compared to sequential designs, data collection takes less time but it
requires great effort and expertise to adequately use two separate methods at
the same time.

● In a concurrent nested approach, only one data collection phase is used during
which either qualitative or quantitative method is used to nest or embed the other
method. This approach is used to gain an in-depth understanding of the topic.