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Mixed Methods
Mixed methods research is a description usually applied to research that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches. Listed below are:
- TLRP's specially commissioned guides about mixed methods or about the ways in which a substantive focus has been researched using different methods and approaches
- showcased TLRP projects' contributions to this issue
- some additional resources
Guides
Name |
Title |
Delivery for posting |
| HEA (x3) |
Three approaches to researching feedback in HE (discourse analysis, experimentation, post-structural approaches) |
14/10/07 |
| Chris Taylor |
Resources from RCBN and RCBN Journal |
14/11/07 |
| UCET Teacher Education Reference Group |
Research on Teacher Education (substantive focus drawing on different methods) |
14/10/07 |
| Carrie Paechter |
Researching how children learn gender |
14/11/07 |
Additional Resource
A paper by Jennifer Mason (2006), in The Real Life Methods Working Papers series, outlines different approaches to using mixed methods in six strategies for mixing methods and linking data , while a discussion paper on mixed methods research paper by Julia Brannen (2005) offers definitions of and reasons for popularity of mixed methods research, as well as outlining how a mixed method strategy plays out in different phases of the research process.
Alan Bryman (2006) performs a content analysis on 232 social science articles to see how mixed methods were used in practice. On the quantitative side structured interview and questionnaire research within a cross-sectional design tended to predominate, while on the qualitative side the semi-structured interview within a cross-sectional design tended to predominate. The rationales for employing a mixed-methods research approach and how they were used in practice indicates did not always align, and the implications of this finding for thinking about mixed-methods research were considered. Bryman (2004) has also produced a Methods Briefing on Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Research: Prospects and Limits .
Forum: Qualitative Social Research has published a special issue (Forum Volume 2, No. 1 – February 2001) on Qualitative and Quantitative Research: Conjunctions and Divergences .
References and further reading:
- Bryman, A. (2006) ‘Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Research: how is it done?' Qualitative Research, Vol. 6, No. 1: 97-114
- Mason, J. (2006) ‘Mixing Methods in a Qualitatively-Driven Way', Qualitative Research, Vol. 6, No. 1: 9-26
- Moran-Ellis, J., Alexander, V. D., Cronin, A., Dickinson, M., Fielding, J., Sleney, J. and Thomas, H., (2006) ‘Triangulation and Integration: processes, claims and
implications' Qualitative Research, Vol. 6, No. 1: 45-60.
- International Journal of Social Research Methodology (2005) Vol. 8, No. 3. Special edition on mixed methods research.
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