Three types of mixed methods research designs are common.

· The QUAN-QUAL model is also known as the triangulation mixed methods design.
Quantitative and qualitative data are equally weighted and are collected concurrently
throughout the same study.

In this design the strengths of each method offset the weaknesses of the other.

May be the most challenging for the researcher must consider and value both forms of data
concurrently.

QUAN-QUAL example:

A school climate researcher conducts observations in a school while simultaneously

administering a battery of climate inventories.

In this case the observations (qualitative data) and the climate inventories(quantitative data) are
collected simultaneously and are weighted equally.

• The QUAN-Qual model is also called the explanatory mixed methods design. Quantitative data
are collected first and are more heavily weighted than are qualitative data.

QUAN-qual example:

A motivation researcher studies procrastination. She administers a battery of procrastination

instruments and then selects a sample of those who report procrastination often and also a sample
of those who report little procrastination to interview for a deeper understanding.

In this case the procrastination instruments are collected first and are the primary data
(quantitative data) and the interviews (qualitative data) are then conducted to elaborate on the
nature of the data from the instruments.

• The QUAL-Quan model is also called the exploratory mixed methods design. Qualitative data
are collected first and are more heavily weighted than quantitative data.

QUAL-Quan example:

A qualitative researcher, studying school climate, finds that the sample of teachers included in
his interviews often mention beliefs about their teaching ability.

This researcher may decide to conduct a survey study of the participants’ teaching efficacy to
enhance the validity of his findings.

In this case the interviews (qualitative data) are primary and the surveys (quantitative data) are
secondary.