I have already conducted my dissertation research and it did not go to plan. I originally wanted to do a sequential mixed methods study; I would conduct a survey first asking all teachers in 20 schools their views on assessment and its impact on children's wellbeing. I would then analyse this data and see what the general perspectives were to inform interviews. I would then use a multiple, embedded case study- It is multiple as there are 3 schools (different from surveyed schools) and it is embedded because I would conduct interviews with each Year 2 teacher (3 in total) and focus groups focus groups with 10 of their pupils (30 in total). So it would be: Quan (arrow) QUAL mixed methods design.
However, I only received 6 responses (from 2 of the 20 schools) so I asked the 3 interview schools to fill them out whilst I was there conducting the interviews/FGs. I got 18 responses but as this was after I had collected the interview/FG data it means the study is no longer sequential but concurrent I think?
Now that I have aggregated the survey data from 5 schools (the 2 original cohort and the 3 interviewed), I feel I can't cross-case analyse the data (survey, interview and focus group) because I don't know which survey results belong to which school (due to them being sent by post anonymously). Thus, I could cross-case analyse the interview/FGs from my three case schools and then compare this to the aggregated survey data but I'm not sure if this would be classed as a concurrent mixed methods approach? Could the results be used in triangulation? Would it now be QUAL + Quan design?
I'm quite confused so any help would be greatly appreciated!
Wow, that seems to be a question that your methodologist could best answer (some might ask you to figure it out to highten your research skills).
I am unfamiliar with mixed methods as my university does not recognize them nor do they recommend them. What I would ask is what is the participant quota for your university for a case study? and why do you think the participant interest was so low and untimely?
Qual, Quant and Mixed are three methodologies but you stated you have a qual mixed methods design. So far I see that your qual design was case study but I do not know what your quant design was (you said arrow). I do not know what that is and hope someone else answers so that I can learn. I hope you find assistance.
Hi, thank you for replying!
I have discussed it with my supervisor but it is ultimately up to me to decide! They don't specify a specific number of participants because it depends on what you are exploring and what is 'fit for purpose'.
I think the response was so low because of a number of reasons:
1. The issue I am exploring may be deemed contentious and some schools may not believe that SATs impact wellbeing
2. It was just after Christmas when I sent the questionnaires so the schools were likely busy
3. Although the questionnaire had only 15 questionnaire, it may have been too long for some teachers due to their busy schedules
Otherwise I'm not too sure- I was shocked by the small number of responses!
What an interesting question. One of the last methodology conferences I went to brought forward a great suggestion. Instead of trying to fit our research within a particular box, to instead just fully describe what was conducted. So you had intended this to be a mixed method sequential study as you mention, but then other things happened. Additionally, due to the limited time to conduct it again, you ended up with your final set of data. You can draw from research from case study to show how you conducted your research appropriately. Then how you supplemented it with quantitative surveys, also something you could indicate from the research is an appropriate step (even if you can't statistically analyze it). Hope this helps and good luck!
Creswell (2009) books discusses five different kinds of mixed method. Kindly search and read. He is even here on RG so you can request for the book. Select the one that best fits your study. Personally I think it is an exploratory mixed method approach that utilizes more qualitative data than the quantitative data. Anyway, your study is interesting, congratulations.
Hello Sophie
The hallmark of a mixed methods research is the integration of qualitative and quantitative results in a whole superior to the individual sum of the parts.
Clearly your research is no longer following a sequential confirmatory mixed methods design (Quan Qual). It would have been like this, if the qualitative component you had deployed to make sense and understand the quantitative results. But I understand that it was not like that. In fact you manifest that temporarily a part of the quantitative data arrived after the qualitative results.
I think you have two options of mixed methods design: Nested design in multiple stages or triangulation.
Do not forget the integration that you must achieve so that your work can be called mixed methods, otherwise it would only be a multi-method investigation.
Regards,
Jorge
Hi Jorge, thank you for your reply.
I am considering triangulation as that seems to suit my research question and provides a more integrated view of the data from which I can draw interpretations. As you say, this would still allow for the study be classed as mixed methods.
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