Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research Designs Module

what is a research paradigm?

a belief system or theory that guides the way we do things and for researchers provides a framework for our rresearch

3 key characteristics of a theoretical framework

ontology - what is reality?

epistemology - how do you know something

methodology - how do you go about finding it out

ontology

what is reality

epistemology

what is knowledge

theoretical persepctive

what approach can we use to get knowledge

methodology

what procedure can we use to acquire knowledge

methods

what tools can we use to acquire knowledge

sources

what data can we collect

4 research paradigms

positivism

interpretivism

critical theory

pragmatism

critical theory paradigm

Critical theory paradigm addresses the need to go beyond simply interpreting what is happening in the world

Researchers using critical approaches concern themselves with issues related to power, oppression, justice, equality and freedom

pragmatism

Pragmatism is a philosophy that focuses on the practical nature of reality, findings truth in the solutions of problems and the consequences of objects & actions

Illustration of an object viewed from different perspectives

• table

Worldview	Object definition
Positivist perspective	A table.  (No matter how it is was or is intended to be used)
Constructionist perspective	A table if she was eating from it, a bench if she was sitting on it and a platform if she was standing on it. (Based on her perspective)
Pragmatist perspective	A table if she intended eating from it, a bench if she intended sitting on it and a platform if she intended standing on it. (The object is not defined by what it is being used for but how it would assist the achievement of a purpose)

summary table

Qualitative research- how/why

uses non-numerical data, and seeks to interpret meaning from these data, to understand and explain specific perspectives of targeted populations or places.

typically explores many aspects of the social world, including personal experiences and expectations, the workings of social processes and relationships, the way institutions work, and the importance of shared meaning.

collecting qualitative data

Qualitative studies often have small sample sizes - deliberately selects participants because of specific characteristics, which are relevant to the research question

analyzing qualitative data

• Listen to, read transcripts, and review documents to gain an overall sense of the data

• Collect and allocate data into codes that convey similar categories or meaning

• Make comparisons between codes within and across transcripts/participants, to clarify common meaning and to identify differences

• New codes may be required as analysis progresses, and sub-categories may also emerge within some codes 

• A level of interpretation usually occurs through the emergence of themes, which represent a deeper level of explanation within and across codes 

• Present the data to convey meaning, using quotes, tables and diagrams

Quantitative Research

‘Explaining phenomena by collecting numerical data that are analysed using mathematically based methods
a formal, objective, systematic process in which numerical data are utilized to obtain information about the world" and "a research method which is used to describe and test relationships and to examine cause-and-effect relationships"

elements of quantitative research

1. thee research is curious about a problem or clinical population

2. the researcher generates a theory or hypothesis

3. to test the hypothesis the researcher collects data

4. data is then analysed using statistical tests

5. the analysis of the data either supports the theory or hypothesis or causes the researcher to generate new theories

mixed methods

Complex situations, where it is important to elaborate, enhance or clarify research findings from one method, to understand both the depth and breadth of a situation

Researchers can use both words and numbers to communicate results and findings from one or more participating groups to convey complexity to a wide audience

Further explanation of results is needed

Data collected using a quantitative data instrument, may be better understood by interviewing a subset of participants who provide more detailed information about some of survey responses

Development of theories and instruments

Exploratory qualitative interviews about how individuals describe or feel about a particular topic can be used to develop quantitative surveys 

Multi-phase research projects describe changes over time 

How do you start to design a mixed methods study? 

1. degree of interaction

2. implementation sequence

3. relative priority of qualitative and quantitative data

4. timing of integration

4 common mixed methods designs

convergent / concurrent / parallel mixed methods design

explanatory mixed methods design

exploratory mixed methods design

embedded mixed methods design

convergent / concurrent / parallel mixed methods deisgn

In this design, the investigator collects both quantitative and qualitative data simultaneously, often both sets of data are analysed separately, and the results merged in the interpretation. Most often, qualitative and quantitative data are given equal emphasis and together they provide a deeper explanation of the topic

explanatory mixed methods design

In this design, the investigator first gathers and analyses quantitative data, and then uses qualitative data collection and analysis to explain the quantitative results. This type of study is often quantitatively driven and the quantitative phase emphasised. Often, the quantitative results from phase 1 are used to purposefully select participants and focus the interview questions for phase 2 qualitative interviews or focus groups.

exploratory mixed methods design

In this design, the investigator begins with an initial qualitative exploration, designed to explore a construct that is not sufficiently described in the literature, is poorly measured or not aligned to a specific population. After this, the investigator follows up with a quantitative data collection phase to determine if the qualitative findings can be translated to a sample of a population. This design is often qualitatively driven during the first phase. This design is often used to develop new quantitative instruments.

embedded mixed methods design

In this design, the investigator embeds one form of data collection in a larger study designed to collect a different form of data. This is a popular design in clinical trials, where qualitative data are embedded (or nested) within a larger experimental trial. The timing of the smaller embedded study can vary. The investigator may collect qualitative, personal data before the quantitative experimental intervention to help design the intervention, or they may collect qualitative data during the intervention to understand the process experiences of participants and augment the outcome experimental data. Further, the investigator may collect qualitative information at the end of the intervention, as a longer term follow up, to help explain the outcomes. Usually, qualitative data are embedded in a predominantly quantitative study and data can be collected and analysed concurrently or sequentially.