In a qualitatively driven mixed methods study, can the research questions appear in this order? 1. Qualitative RQ, 2. Quantitative RQ, 3.Mixed Methods RQ. Creswell ( 2008) recommends starting with a mixed method RQ, but in my study, it works better to start with a qualitative RQ ( the one which looks at perceptions and beliefs of individuals), construct a questionnaire based on the themes and concepts emerging from the qualitative phase and finally, perform the data integration to answer the mixed methods RQ. Is that a feasible approach?
I'm not sure what Creswell means by a "mixed methods research question," but to me it would imply a research project that requires the integration of both qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to answer the question. So, if you are starting with a project that uses a well-conceived combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, you probably already have a mixed methods research question.
It sounds like your design is something like QUAL --> quant, which is one that doesn't have a shorthand name, but that doesn't mean that it can't meet your purposes.
Dear Lela,
Research involves great innovation to be able to appropriately answer the research questions for our studies. Therefore, it largely involves creativity and experimentation. Of course, the rudiments of the accepted paradigms of research must serve as a guide but they may not be followed stringently if the research to be undertaken would lose its quality if that is done. I have read your paradigm for undertaking this research and I think it would be a wonderful means of yielding rich data, from the qualitative to the quantitative and then the integration of both approaches. This mixed method approach is done in many cases in anthropological research whereby the responses from the qualitative study is coded and used for the quantitative study via questionnaire administration.
My dear, be prepared to change/turn the wheel and change some conventions in accepted theories if the need arises to be able to put quality research findings to the public domain (academic community). If it calls for doing it, do so to improve the quality of your research. It may be a new paradigm in research that you may be credited as a proponent. That is research and that makes you a true scholar.
All the best
Dickson Adom
Alan Bryman's book of social research methods provides a good account of different ways that mixed methods can be employed. Regarding the link to research questions, a very simply distinction is that qualitative methods tend to me used to address more open ended research questions (with a inductive or abductive method of analysis), and quantitive methods tended to be used to address closed questions (such as hypothesis testing, and deduction). Bryman's book provides a short overview of different ways in which mixed methods have been used in past research papers. (Incidentally myself Iain Munro) and John Mingers have co-authored a paper on this in the field of Operational Research)
The following papers should be helpful:
- Collins, K. M. and O'Cathain, A. (2009). Introduction: Ten points about mixed methods research to be considered by the novice researcher. International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches, 3, 1, pp. 2-7.
- Johnson, R. B. and Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Mixed Methods Research: A Research Paradigm Whose Time Has Come. Educational Researcher, 33, 7, pp. 14-26.
- Onwuegbuzie, A. J. and Leech, N. L. (2006). Linking Research Questions to Mixed Methods Data Analysis Procedures. The Qualitative Report, 11, 3, pp. 474-498.
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