Mixed Methods Research Design and Methods

Mixed Methods Research Design and Methods

The third research method to explore is a combination of both qualitative and quantitative research methods. However, combining two different things is more complicated than throwing everything into the same bowl and hoping to get a cake—there is a procedure to selecting the right ingredients and their amounts. The same is true of mixed methods strategies, and the newness of this research design makes it both exciting and challenging. In this Discussion, you will examine some of those challenges, calling upon your growing understanding of both quantitative and qualitative strategies.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Review Chapter 10 in the course text, Research Design and the “Mixed Methods: Examples” media segment. Based on this information, how would you respond to someone who asks you, “To what extent is mixed methods research simply taking half a quantitative plan and half of a qualitative plan and putting them together?”

Review the article “On Becoming a Pragmatic Researcher: The Importance of Combining Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methodologies” in the Learning Resources.

Explore what you believe is or are the biggest challenges for a researcher who wants to use a mixed methods strategy of inquiry.

Determine which kinds of research questions would be served by a mixed methods strategy of inquiry and explain why.

Indicate why you believe that more researchers are using a mixed methods strategy of inquiry.

Describe the extent to which a mixed methods strategy of inquiry is used in your discipline.

With these thoughts in mind:

2-to 3-paragraph response that includes an answer to the question “To what extent is mixed methods research simply taking half a quantitative plan and half of a qualitative plan and putting them together?” and an articulation of the challenges to using a mixed methods strategy of inquiry.

‘ ‘ THIRD EDITION RESEARCH DESIGN I dedicate this book to Karen Drumm Creswell. She is the inspiration for my writing and my life. Because of her, as wife, supporter, and detailed and careful editor, I am able to work long hours and keep the home fires burning during the years that I devote to my job and my books. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being there for me. THIRD EDITION RESEARCH DESIGN Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches JOHN W. CRESWELL UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN ~SAGE Los Angeles • London • New Delhi • Singapore Copyright© 2009 by SAGE Publications. Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilir.ed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical. including photocopying, recording. or by any information storage and retrieval system, ‘Vithout permission in writing from the publisher. For information: SAGE Publications, Inc. 2455 Teller Road Thousand Oaks, California 91320 E-mail: order@sagepub.com SAGE Publications Ltd. 1 Oliver’s Yard 55 City Road London EC1 Y 1SP United Kingdom Printed in the United States of America SAGE Publications India Pvt. Ltd. B 1/I 1 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area Mathura Road, New Delhi 110 044 India SAGE Publications Asia-Pacific Pte. Ltd. 33 Pekin Street #02-01 Far East Square Singapore 048763 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Creswell, John W Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches/John W Creswell. -3rd ed. p.cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4129-6556-9 (cloth) ISBN 978-1-4129-6557-6 (pbk.) 1. Social sciences-Research-Methodology. 2. Social sciences-Statistical methods. I. Title. H62.C6963 2009 300. 72-dc22 Printed on acid-free paper 08 09 10 11 12 10 9 8 7 Acquiring Editor: Vicki Knight Associate Editor: Sean Connelly Editorial Assistant: Lauren Habib Production Editor: Sarah K. Quesenberry Copy Editor: Marilyn Power Scott Typesetter: C&M Digitals (P) Ltd. Proofreader: Marleis Roberts Indexer: Rick Hurd Cover Designer: Janet Foulger Marketing Manager: Stephanie Adams 2008006242 6 5 4 3 2 1 Brief Contents Analytic Contents of Research Techniques Preface Acknowledgments About the Author ~ Part 1: Preliminary Considerations 1. The Selection of a Research Design 2. Review of the Literature .3. The Use of Theory 4. Writing Strategies and Ethical Considerations ~~; Part II. Designing Research 5. The Introduction 6. The Purpose Statement 7. Research Questions and Hypotheses 8. Quantitative Methods 9. Qualitative Procedures 1 0. Mixed Methods Procedures Glossary References Author Index Subject Index XV xix xxvii xxix 3 23 49 73 95 97 111 129 145 173 203 227 237 247 251 Detailed Contents Analytic Contents ot Research Techniques Preface XV xix xix XIX XX xxii Purpose Audience Format Outline of Chapters Acknowledgments About the Author ~”!:i Part 1: Preliminary ConsideraHons xxvii xxix 1. The SelecHon of a Research Design 3 The Three Types of Designs 3 Three Components Involved in a Design 5 Philosophical Worldviews 5 The Postpositivist Worldview 6 The Social Constructivist Worldview 8 The Advocacy and Participatory Worldvlew 9 The Pragmatic Worldview 10 Strategies of Inquiry 11 Quantitative Strategies 12 Qualitative Strategies 12 Mixed Methods Strategies 14 Research Methods 15 Research Designs as Worldviews, Strategies. and Methods 16 Criteria for Selecting a Research Design 18 The Research Problem 18 Personal Experiences 19 Audience 19 Summary 20 Writing Exercises 20 Additional Readings 20 2. Review of the Literature 23 The Research Topic 23 The Literature Review 25 The Use of the Literature 26 Design Techniques 29 Steps in Conducting a Literature Review 29 Searching Computerized Databases 30 A Priority for Selecting Literature Material 32 A Literature Map of the Research 33 Abstracting Studies 36 • Example 2.1 Literature Review in a Quantitative Study 37 • Example 2.2 Literature Review in a Study Advancing a Typology 37 Style Manuals 38 The Definition ofTerms 39 • Example 2.3 Terms Defined in a Mixed Methods Dissertation 42 • Example 2.4 Terms Defined in an Independent Variables Section 43 A Quantitative or Mixed Methods Literature Review 43 ~mma~ e Writing Exercises 46 Additional Readings 46 3. The Use of Theory 49 Quantitative Theo~ Use 49 Variables in Quantitative Research 49 Definition of a Theory 51 Forms of Theories 53 Placement of Quantitative Theories 55 Writing a Quantitative Theoretical Perspective 57 • Example 3.1 A Quantitative Theory Section 59 Qualitative Theory Use 61 Variation in Theory Use in Qualitative Research 61 Locating the Theo~ in Qualitative Research 65 • Example 3.2 A Thea~ Early in a Qualitative Study 65 • Example 3.3 A Thea~ at the End of a Qualitative Study 65 Mixed Methods Theo~ Use 66 • Example 3.4 Theo~ in a Transformative-Emancipatory Mixed Methods Study 69 Summa~ 69 Writing Exercises 70 Additional Readings 71 4. Writing Strategies and Ethical Considerations Writing the Proposal Sections in a Proposal Format for a Qualitative Proposal • Example 4.1 A Qualitative Constructivist/ lnterpretivist Format • Example 4.2 A Qualitative Advocacy/ Participatory Format Format for a Quantitative Proposal • Example 4.3 A Quantitative Format Format for a Mixed Methods Proposal • Example 4.4 A Mixed Methods Format Designing the Sections of a Proposal Writing Ideas Writing as Thinking The Habit of Writing Readability of the Manuscript • Example 4.5 An Illustration of the 73 73 73 74 74 75 76 76 77 77 78 79 79 80 82 Hook-and-Eye Technique 84 Voice, Tense, and “Fat” 85 Ethical Issues to Anticipate 87 Ethical Issues in the Research Problem 88 Ethical Issues in the Purpose and Questions 88 Ethical Issues in Data Collection 89 Ethical Issues in Data Analysis and Interpretation 91 Ethical Issues in Writing and Disseminating the Research 92 Summary 93 Writing Exercises 93 Additional Readings 94 ~~ Part II: Designing Research 95 5. The Introduction 97 The Importance of Introductions 97 Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Introductions 98 A Model for an Introduction 1 00 An Illustration 1 00 The Research Problem 1 02 Studies Addressing the Problem 104 Deficiencies in Past Literature 1 06 • Example 5.1 Deficiencies in the Literature-Needed Studies 106 a Example 5.2 Deficiencies in the Literature-Few Studies 107 Significance of a Study tor Audiences 107 a Example 5.3 Significance of the Study Stated in an Introduction to a Quantitative Study 108 Summary 108 Writing Exercises 109 Additional Readings 109 6. The Purpose Statement Ill Significance and Meaning of a Purpose Statement Ill A Qualitative Purpose Statement 112 a Example 6.1 A Purpose Statement in a Qualitative Phenomenology Study 114 a Example 6.2 A Purpose Statement in a Case Study 115 • Example 6.3 A Purpose Statement in an Ethnography 115 • Example 6.4 A Purpose Statement in a Grounded Theory Study 116 A Quantitative Purpose Statement 116 a Example 6.5 A Purpose Statement in a Published Survey Study 118 • Example 6.6 A Purpose Statement in a Dissertation Survey Study 119 a Example6.7 A Purpose Statement in an Experimental Study 120 A Mixed Methods Purpose Statement 120 a Example 6.8 A Concurrent Mixed Methods Purpose Statement 123 • Example 6.9 A Sequential Mixed Methods Purpose Statement 124 • Example 6.1 0 A Transformative Concurrent Mixed Methods Purpose Statement 125 Summary 125 Writing Exercises 126 Additional Readings 126 7. Research Questions and Hypotheses 129 Qualitative Research Questions 129 a Example 7.1 A Qualitative Central Question From an Ethnography 131 • Example 7.2 Qualitative Central Questions From a Case Study 132 Quantitative Research Questions and Hypotheses 132 • Example 7.3 A Null Hypothesis 13~ • Example 7.~ Directional Hypotheses 13~ • Example 7.5 Nondirectional and Directional Hypotheses 135 • Example 7.6 Standard Use of Language in Hypotheses 136 A Model for Descriptive Questions and Hypotheses 136 • Example 7.7 Descriptive and Inferential Questions 136 Mixed Methods Research Questions and Hypotheses 138 • Example 7.8 Hypotheses and Research Questions in a Mixed Methods Study 139 • Example 7.9 A Mixed Methods Question Written in Terms of Mixing Procedures Summary Writing Exercises Additional Readings 8. Quantitative Methods Defining Surveys and Experiments Components of a Survey Method Plan The Survey Design The Population and Sample Instrumentation Variables in the Study Data Analysis and Interpretation • Example 8.1 A Survey Method Section Components of an Experimental Method Plan Participants Vanables Instrumentation and Materials Experimental Procedures • Example 8.2 Pre-Experimental Designs • Example 8.3 Quasi-Experimental Designs • Example 8.~ True Experimental Designs • Example 8.5 Single-Subject Designs Threats to Validity The Procedure Data Analysis Interpreting Results • Example 8.6 An Experimental Method Section 1~1 1~1 1~2 1~2 145 1~5 1~6 1~6 1~7 1~9 150 151 154 155 155 157 158 158 160 160 161 162 162 165 166 167 167 Summary 169 Writing Exercises 169 Additional Readings 1 70 9. Qualitative Procedures 173 The Characteristics of Qualitative Research 173 Strategies of Inquiry 176 The Researcher’s Role 1 77 Data Collection Procedures 178 Data Recording Procedures 181 Data Analysis and Interpretation 183 Reliability, Validity, and Generalizability 190 The Qualitative Write-Up 193 a Example 9.1 Qualitative Procedures 194 Summary 201 Writing Exercises 202 Additional Readings 202 10. Mixed Methods Procedures 203 Components of Mixed Methods Procedures 203 The Nature of Mixed Methods Research 204 Types of Mixed Methods Strategies and Visual Models 206 Planning Mixed Methods Procedures 206 Timing 206 Weighting 206 Mixing 207 Theorizing or Transforming Perspectives 208 Alternative Strategies and Visual Models 208 Sequential Explanatory Strategy 211 Sequential Exploratory Strategy 211 Sequential Transformative Strategy 212 Concurrent Triangulation Strategy 213 Concurrent Embedded Strategy 214 Concurrent Transformative Strategy 215 Choosing a Mixed Methods Strategy 216 Data Collection Procedures 217 Data Analysis and Validation Procedures 218 Report Presentation Structure 220 Examples of Mixed Methods Procedures 220 a Example 10.1 A Sequential Strategy of Inquiry 221 a Example 10.2 A Concurrent Strategy of Inquiry 221 a Example 1 0.3 A Transformative Strategy of Inquiry 223 Summary 224 Writing Exercises 224 Additional Readings 225 Glossary 227 References 237 Author Index 247 Subject Index 251 Analytic Contents of Research Techniques Chapter 1. The Selection of a Research Design e How to think about what design you should use e Identifying a worldview with which you are most comfortable • Defining the three types of research designs • How to choose which one of the three designs to use Chapter 2. Review of the Literature e How to assess whether your topic is researchable • The steps in conducting a literature review e Computerized databases available for reviewing the literature • Developing a priority for types of literature to review • How to design a literature map • How to write a good abstract of a research study • Important elements of a style manual to use • Types of terms to define e A model for writing a literature review Chapter 3. The Use of Theory e The types of variables in a quantitative study e A practical definition of a quantitative theory e A model for writing a theoretical perspective into a quantitative study using a script e Types of theories used in qualitative research XV xvi Research Design 0 Options for placing theories in a qualitative study o How to place a theoretical lens into a mixed methods stndy Chapter 4. Writing Strategies and Ethical Considerations 0 Assessing how the structure of a proposal would differ depending on a qualitative. quantitative, or mixed methods design 0 A writing strategy for drafting a proposal 0 Developing a habit of writing 0 Differences between umbrella thoughts. big thoughts. little thoughts, and attention thoughts in writing 0 The hook-and-eye technique for writing consistency 0 Principles of writing good prose 0 Ethics issues in the research process Chapter 5. The Introduction 0 Differences among quantitative. qualitative. and mixed methods introductions 0 The deficiency model for writing an introduction 0 How to design a good narrative hook 0 How to identify and write a research problem 0 How to summarize literature about a research problem 0 Distinguishing among different types of deficiencies in past literature 0 Considering groups that may profit from your stndy Chapter 6. The Purpose Statement 0 A script for writing a qualitative purpose statement o Considering how the script would change depending on your qualitative strategy of inquiry 0 A script for writing a quantitative purpose statement 0 Considering how the script would change de

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