4.4. Research design
4.4.3. Mixed methods research
The challenges of developing of fully integrated qualitative/quantitative methods remains under investigation (Flick 2018). Timans, Wouters and Heilbron (2019) added that the desire to combine approaches has a long history in social science research. Plano Clark and Ivankova (2016) stated that mixed method researchers have dedicated tremendous attention and effort to choosing a name for this approach. For instance, the terms used include: “mixed-method research” (with a hyphen), “mixed method research” (nohyphen), “mixed methodology”,
“mixed method research” (no s), “multiple research”, “methodological triangulation”,
“combined research”, “integrated research and mixed research. This explains why for quite
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some time words like multiple methods, combining methods, and triangulation have been used to describe empirical research involving various data analysis approaches for a long time. The term “mixed methods” is used for situations in which different components of the research process are integrated from both quantitative and qualitative methods. Multiple methods, on the other hand, are chosen from a single paradigm, meaning that using two different data collection methods in one paradigm. For example, interpretivism is adopted as a paradigm that guides the study and chooses interviews and observations as instruments for the data collection for the study.
Furthermore, as Flick (2018) pointed out, triangulation and mixed-method are terms that refer to the same idea but express it differently. The aim of mixed-methods research is to combine qualitative and quantitative techniques. Triangulation is broader in the kinds of methods that are combined, as it is often used as a combination of several qualitative methods (Flick 2018).Triangulation includes many different views, helps to prevent biases of a single technique or investigator and completes the connections between observation and theory building (Plastow 2016).The term “multiple method” as, highlighted by Plano Clark and Ivankova (2016)is used to combine multiple qualitative approaches, multiple quantitative approaches or multiple qualitative and quantitative approaches. Multi methods research, in other words, describes studies in which the researchers combine multi qualitative approaches (for instance, narrative and ethnographic research methods) or combine multiple quantitative approaches (for instance survey and experimental research methods) or both qualitative and quantitative approaches (Plano Clark and Ivankova 2016).Wisdom (2013) argued that mixed method involves a growing investigative method that enhances the methodological combination of qualitative and quantitative data in a research.
Schoonenboom and Johnson (2017) argued that a mixed methods design is portrayed by the mix of no less than one qualitative and one quantitative research constituent. The following features of mixed methods design are highlighted by Wisdom (2013):
i. Utilizing thorough strategies in gathering and breaking down data relevant to every method/technique tradition, for example, guaranteeing the suitable sample measure for quantitative and qualitative study;
ii. Collecting and breaking down both quantitative (closed-ended) and qualitative (Open-ended) information;
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iii. Utilizing techniques that apply qualitative and quantitative parts either simultaneously or successively, by a similar sample or with various samples and;
iv. Outlining the strategies in theoretical models of investigation, for example, in a social constructionist model that tries to comprehend various points of view on a single issue; and
v. Mixing of data in data accumulation, analysis, or discourse.
The following rationales for mixed methods research are highlighted by Plano Clark and Ivankova (2016):
i. Triangulation;
ii. Offsetting strengths and weakness;
iii. Development;
iv. Social justice rationale; and v. Complementarity.
On the other hand, Creswell and Plano Clark (2018) classified research appropriate for mixed methods to include:
i. The research that one source of information is inadequate ; ii. Those whose findings need to be explained ;
iii. The research that the exploratory findings have to be generalized;
iv. Those research that the experimental design needs to be extended;
v. The multiple sources should be compared, and Multiple sources need to be compared; and
vi. The respondents need to participate in the studies..
Creswell (2018) identified six sets of mixed methods research designs:
i. The exploratory sequential mixed method is the opposite sequence from the explanatory sequential design. In the exploratory sequential approach the researcher first starts with qualitative research and examines the views of respondents. The data is then analysed, and the information used to develops on a second quantitative phase;
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ii. Convergent mixed methods design- it is a form of design of mixed methods where the researcher converged quantitative and qualitative data in order to get a comprehensive analysis of the research problem;
iii. Explanatory sequential methods is one where, the researcher first carries out quantitative research, analyses, the results and then develops on the results to explain them in greater detail with qualitative research;
iv. Multiphase mixed methods design is common in the areas of evaluation and programme interventions, sequential strategies are used in this advanced design in tandem overtime to best understand a long-term objective of the programme;
v. Transformative mixed methods are a model that uses a theoretical lens derived from social justice. The data in this type of study could be converged with one building on the other, in sequence; and
vi. The embedded mixed methods involves either convergent or sequential, use of data, however, the main idea is either quantitative or quantitative is embedded in a larger design (for instance an experiment) or the data sources play a supporting role in the overall design.
The advantages of mixed methods designed as highlighted by Almeidai (2018) include:
i. Mixed methodologies are used when it is necessary to conduct both comparative analysis and the development of aspects of the study extensively and in-depth;
ii. It is possible to overcome the constraints of quantitative and qualitative methodologies by using mixed methods;
iii. It enables the researcher to obtain comprehensive information that cannot be obtained using each method alone.
Other advantages of mixed methods, as pointed out by Dawadi, Shrestha and Giri (2021) include:
i. Mix methods allows the researchers to broaden and deepen their research;
ii. It enables researchers to solve the same study question using both data sets;
iii. It aids researchers in bridging the gap between quantitative and qualitative paradigms in terms of epistemology; and
iv. It employs two ways to assist researchers in achieving more solid results etcetera.
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The next section discusses the explanatory sequential mixed method.