Foundations Of Mixed Methods Research

""The authors have successfully integrated a technical and well rounded discussion of the evolution of mixed methods research balanced with practical application examples of using mixed methods for the pragmatic researcher.""

'Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research' offers a practical, how-to guide for designing a mixed methods study. The text incorporates activities and exercises for classroom use or for use by the researcher in preparing designs.

Mixed methods research is becoming prevalent in many fields, yet little has been done to elevate mixed methods research in information science. A comprehensive picture of information science and its problems is needed to further understand and address the issues associated with it as well as how mixed methods research can be adapted and used. The Handbook of Research on Mixed Methods Research in Information Science discusses the quality of mixed methods studies and methodological transparency, sampling in mixed methods research, and the application of theory in mixed methods research throughout various contexts. Covering topics such as the issues and potential directions for further research in mixed methods, this comprehensive major reference work is ideal for researchers, policymakers, academicians, librarians, practitioners, instructors, and students.

Finally, a practical guide to mixed methods research has been written with health and human services professionals in mind. Watkins and Gioia review the fundamentals of mixed methods research designs and the general suppositions of mixed methods procedures, look critically at mixed method studies and models that have already been employed in social work, and reflect on the contributions of this work to the field. But what is most important is that they lead the reader through considerations for the application of the mixed methods research in social work settings. The chapters of this book are structured so that readers can (figuratively) walk through the mixed methods research process using nine steps. Chapters one, five, and six provide supplemental material meant to serve as grounding for chapters two, three, and four, which outline nine steps in the mixed methods research process, and specific to social work research. This is a short and practical guide not just for learning about mixed methods research, but also doing it.

Introduction to mixed methods research -- Formulating questions, conducting a literature review, sampling design, and the centrality of ethics in mixed methods research -- A qualitative approach to mixed methods design, analysis, interpretation, writing up, and validity -- Interpretative approaches to mixed methods research -- Feminist approaches to mixed methods research -- Postmodernist approaches to mixed methods research, with Chris Kelly -- Putting it together: qualitative approaches to mixed methods research praxis -- Conclusion: the prospects and challenges of mixed methods praxis

The Handbook of Mixed Methods in Social & Behavioral Research contains a gold mine of articles by leading scholars on what has come to be known as the third methodological movement in social research. Aimed at surveying the differing viewpoints and disciplinary approaches of mixed methods, this breakthrough book examines mixed methods from the research enterprise to paradigmatic issues to application. The book also discusses the strengths and weaknesses of mixed methods designs, and provides an array of specific examples in a variety of disciplines, from psychology to nursing. The book closes with a brief section on how to teach and perform collaborative research using a mixed methods research design. Written so that it can be used either as a pedagogical tool or as a reference for researchers, the book is rich in examples and includes a glossary, easy-to-follow diagrams, and tables to help readers become more familiar with the language and controversies in this evolving area.

Advances in Mixed Methods Research provides an essential introduction to the fast-growing field of mixed methods research. Bergman′s book examines the current state of mixed-methods research, exploring exciting new ways of conceptualizing and conducting empirical research in the social and health sciences. Contributions from the world′s leading experts in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches are brought together, clearing the way for a more constructive approach to social research. These contributions cover the main practical and methodological issues and include a number of different visions of what mixed methods research is. The discussion also covers the use of mixed methods in a diverse range of fields, including sociology, education, politics, psychology, computational science and methodology. This book represents an important contribution to the ongoing debate surrounding the use of mixed methods in the social sciences and health research, and presents a convincing argument that the conventional, paradigmatic view of qualitative and quantitative research is outdated and in need of replacement. It will be essential reading for anyone actively engaged in qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research and for students of social research methods. Manfred Max Bergman is Chair of Methodology and Political Sociology at the University of Basel.

Offering a variety of innovative methods and tools, The Oxford Handbook of Multimethod and Mixed Methods Research Inquiry provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date presentation on multi- and mixed-methods research available. Written in clear and concise language by leading scholars in the field, it enhances and disrupts traditional ways of asking and addressing complex research questions. Topics include an overview of theory, paradigms, and scientific inquiry; a guide to conducting a multi- and mixed-methods research study from start to finish; current uses of multi- and mixed-methods research across academic disciplines and research fields; the latest technologies and how they can be incorporated into study design; and a presentation of multiple perspectives on the key remaining debates. Each chapter in the volume is structured to include state-of-the-art research examples that cross a range of disciplines and interdisciplinary research settings. In addition, the Handbook offers multiple quantitative and qualitative theoretical and interdisciplinary visions and praxis. Researchers, faculty, graduate students, and policy makers will appreciate the exceptional, timely, and critical coverage in this Handbook, which deftly addresses the interdisciplinary and complex questions that a diverse set of research communities are facing today.

An Introduction to Fully Integrated Mixed Methods Research by Elizabeth G. Creamer provides the tools needed to design, execute, and evaluate fully integrated mixed methods research studies. A uniting metaphor of the architectural arch helps students understand the benefits of a mixed methods approach as they consider ways to integrate the qualitative and quantitative strands at all stages of design and execution. With use of examples from popular media and published research, this text also includes a detailed discussion of ways to accomplish mixing methods during data collection and analysis and a separate chapter on designing and executing a realistic mixed methods dissertation.

The clear division between quantitative and qualitative research methods becomes problematic when students begin conducting extensive research for the first time, often as part of a master’s thesis or dissertation. In order to handle such complexities in the selection of research methods, a Mixed Methods Research (MMR) approach is one proposed solution. Mixed Methods Research for Improved Scientific Study seeks to demonstrate how mixed methods research designs can address a wide array of scientific questions across disciplines. Focusing on essential concepts and methods for a hybrid approach to quantitative and qualitative research methods for real-world implementation, this publication is ideally designed for students and researchers interested in refining their research skills as well as educators seeking to integrate research methods coursework into the graduate curriculum.