I would be grateful for some advice about how to classify my research. I have conducted two surveys and used cognitive interviews. The first survey was descriptive (quantitative), then I developed and tested a second survey in a series of cognitive interviews, then finalised the survey and collected quantitative data. I have always thought this is quantitative but others are suggesting it is mixed methods. I can grasp if I used focus groups and then a survey then it fits one of the mixed methods labels, but I am struggling with cognitive interviews - I know they are described as qualitative (albeit not as qualitative interviews are typically thought of) but I am thinking they are a necessary/recommended part of survey development, so come under the quantitative umbrella (or survey methodology?). The data from the cognitive interviews tested the questions and also helped shape the concepts - with some useful quotes I could use. Any advice?
In order to classify a study as mixed methods, there needs to be an integration between the results of the qualitative and quantitative methods. I personally think that cognitive interviews do not meet this standard because they are mostly just inputs into the survey itself. So I agree that they are part of the survey development process (i.e., a form of pre-testing), rather than a separate study with its own results.
Jackie,
from what you describe, even though you talk about "cognitive interviews", seems to me that you are doing (quantitative) pre-testing, as David suggests above.
Thank you David and Phillip - this is exactly what I was thinking - I am trying to write up my methodology and keep it quantitative but am having to justify to others why it is not mixed methods (and that makes me worried for my final viva - I've read a theses of someone who used cognitive interviews and they described it as mixed methods!). I think I will stick to the survey development process and keep it quantitative (otherwise all surveys would be classed as mixed methods if they used cognitive interviews?). Thank you both for your feedback - I don't feel like I'm so crazy with my thought process now!
Jackie,
of course, some regard cognitive interviewing in survey development as "..a special case of qualitative design.. .", e.g. Willis in Analysis of Cognitive Interviews in Questionnaire Design,(2015), hence, some might see your study as mixed methods; however, I agree with David that cognitive interviews as you have used them for survey question development, do not meet the mixed method standard of QUAL/QUANT results integration.
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