For my research methodology in qualitative research on 'Critical Reflective Practices' I am using both my reflective journal (action research) and interviews as data sources for research design. Can both (journal + interview = findings) be called mixed method or methodological triangulation? Please again consider following two points while answering:
1. I couldn't rely on my reflective journal as its not free from subjective biases and I didn't have a mentor or expert to share my reflection.
2. Interviews were conducted to further validate the research and to defy my subjective biases from reflective journal.
In my understanding "mixed method" refers to design where both quantitative and qualitative data is collected and analyzed to answer same questions. The design may take a sequential form where quan data is collected after qual data ( data from interviews are used to develop a model which later be tested through a survey) or vice versa.
In your case, you are using single design (qual), so we cannot call it a mixed method approach.
I will try to find link to a discussion where mixed and multi methods are discussed thoroughly.
Anwar - Ali is correct. Your reflective journal isn't quantitative. You can call your study multi-methods - but you would have to identify to what extent your journal is a qualitative method. You call it action research - but that will not be the case - unless it is a reflection of a separate action research project. Either way my instincts, without further information, is that you have conducted a single qualitative methodology using interviews - and have accompanied it with journal notes and reflections.
Yes to the previous comments. Also a reflective journal would not typically be called action research. Action research is an entire methodological approach in of itself that seeks to affect change typically within an educational structure. So it would be best to remove that discussion unless you are delving into making educational change. Lastly, you mention a subjective nature of reflective journals. For qualitative research in particular, it is recognized that you subjectivity is present, and that is okay and expected. The way to address it is to identify your background, or what is termed "positionality."
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Medical Science Nursing
- Dissertations