MIXED-METHOD

RESEARCH
Erlinda Castro-Palaganas, PhD
 Topics

1.Definition of terms
2. Purposes of MMR
3. Major designs of MMR
 Mixed-Method Research
• Research design consisting of one complete method
with additional supplementary strategies drawn from
a second different method (Munhall, 2012)

• Use of both qualitative and quantitative approaches

in a single study (Holloway & Galvin, 2017)

• As a method, involves collecting, analyzing, and

integrating quantitative and qualitative research in a
single study or a longitudinal program of inquiry
(Creswell,2011)
 Mixed-Method Research
Central premise- the use of
quantitative and qualitative
approaches, in combination,
provides a better understanding of
research problems than either
approach alone
 • Phase of the research during which
Component one or more methodological
strategies are used as research tools

• Primary or main study or core

Core component method used to address the question

• methodological strategy used to

Supplementary enhance description,
understanding, or explanation of
component the phenomenon under
investigation
Core component & Supplemental component
presentation
1. Uppercase letters- core
2. Lowercase letters- supplemental
3. Plus sign (+)- supplemental component is
conducted simultaneously with the core
component
4. Arrow sign - supplemental component is
conducted after the core component
Theoretical •Direction of the inquiry
that guides the use of
drive the appropriate
methodological core

Theoretical •Overall inductive or

deductive direction of a
thrust research program
Examples
1. QUAL + quan= qualitative core component
(inductive theoretical thrust) with a
quantitative supplemental component
2. QUAN qual= Quantitative core
component (deductive theoretical thrust)
with a qualitative supplemental component
 Purposes (Munhall,2012)
1.To illustrate different aspects of a phenomenon;
illustrate the complexity of the social world
2.To illuminate a problem from different angles,
gaining different types of information
3.To obtain input from both quantitative and
qualitative perspectives for enriching knowledge-
base of a particular field
4.To translate research to clinical or practice
settings
Reasons for using MMR (Creswell, 2011)

One data resource may not be

enough
Initial results need to be further
explained
A second method is needed to
enhance a primary method

The project has multi-phases

How to choose an appropriate mixed
methods design
–Level of interaction between two strands:
independent or interactive.
–Relative priority: equal/unequal priority
–Timing: concurrent, sequential, or
combination of those two
–Where or how to mix the strands: point of
interface and mixing strategies
Point of interface: a point where the two
strands are mixed
– Data collection: quan or qual results build to
the subsequent collection of qual or quan
data.
– Data analysis: transform one type of data
into other type of data and analyze combined
data.
– Interpretation: comparing or combining
results from both methods.
 Major Designs
1.Convergent parallel design
2.Explanatory sequential design
3. Exploratory sequential design
4.Embedded design
5.Transformative design
6.Multiphase design
 1.Convergent Parallel Design

Quantitative data
collection and
analysis
Compare
Interpretation
or relate
Qualitative data
collection and
analysis
Point of
interface
 Convergent Parallel Design

✓ Order of two types of data collections: survey first

then focus group or one-on-one interview.
✓ Merged data analysis strategies
a. Side-by-side comparison (in a results or
discussion section or a summary table)
b. Data transformation merged analysis:
transform one type of data (qual) into the other
type of data (quan)
 Convergent Parallel Design

✓Interpreting merged results

–Look for similarity and convergence
–How to handle discrepancy?
•State the limitations of the study
•Revisit two types of data
•Could collect additional data
Convergent Parallel Design
• Challenges
1. Needs both quantitative and qualitative
expertise
2. Consequences of having different samples
and different sample size when merging two
data sets
3. How to merge two types of data
4. How to deal with the situation in which
quantitative and qualitative results contradict
each other.
 2. Explanatory Sequential Design

Quantitative Qualitative
data data
Follow
collection collection Interpreta
up
and and tion
with
analysis analysis

Point of
interface
 Explanatory Sequential Design
Samples: different or same group of people in both
studies?
• The participants in the qualitative study should
be those who participated in the quantitative study.
From the start, inform participants the possibility
of second data collection
Sample sizes: equal or unequal
• Qualitative study uses smaller sample
 Explanatory Sequential Design
Decide what quantitative results to follow
up
• Unclear
• Unexpected
• Significant/non-significant results
• Outliers or extreme cases
 Explanatory Sequential Design
How to select participants for qualitative study
• Individuals who volunteer to participate
in interviews (weaker connection between
two phases)
• Systematic approach: based on
quantitative results and select participants
best able to fit in qualitative study (IRB
issue).
 Explanatory Sequential Design
Select qualitative sample
✓ Participants who are representative of
different groups
✓ Participants with extreme scores.
✓ Participants who differed in their scores on
significant predictors
 Explanatory Sequential Design
Interpreting connected results
–Conclusion is about whether the follow up
qualitative data provided a better
understanding of the research problem than
simply the quantitative results
 Explanatory Sequential Design
Challenges
1. Time consuming
2. Institutional Review Board issue
3.Decisions about which quantitative results
need further explanation.
4. Decisions about who to sample and what
criteria used for sample selection for
qualitative study
3. Exploratory Sequential Design

- Also referred to as instrument

development design. The purpose of
this design is to generalize qualitative
findings to a larger sample.
 Exploratory Sequential Design
Reasons for using this design
1. Instruments are not available
2. The variables are not known
3. There is no theory or model as a
guide
 Exploratory Sequential Design Diagram

Qualitative Quantitative
data data
collection Builds collection Interpreta
and to and
tion
analysis analysis

Point of
interface
4. EMBEDDED DESIGN
5. TRANSFORMATIVE DESIGN
 Defining the problem and
searching the literature

Flowchart of the
Identifying the research design
Basic
Considerations
Identifying data sources and for Designing a
selecting participants Transformative
Design
Identifying or Constructing Data
Collection Instruments and
Methods

Analyzing, interpreting, reporting,

and using results
6. MULTIPHASE DESIGN