Mixed methods research combines elements of quantitative research and qualitative research in order to answer your research question. Mixed methods can help you gain a more complete picture than a standalone quantitative or qualitative study, as it integrates benefits of both methods. Show
Mixed methods research is often used in the behavioral, health, and social sciences, especially in multidisciplinary settings and complex situational or societal research. Mixed methods research question examples
When to use mixed methods researchMixed methods research may be the right choice if your research process suggests that quantitative or qualitative data alone will not sufficiently answer your research question. There are several common reasons for using mixed methods research:
As you formulate your research question, try to directly address how qualitative and quantitative methods will be combined in your study. If your research question can be sufficiently answered via standalone quantitative or qualitative analysis, a mixed methods approach may not be the right fit. Research exampleYou want to research cycling safety in high-traffic areas of Amsterdam. If you’re interested in the frequency of accidents and where they occur, this could be a straightforward quantitative analysis. If you’re interested in the nature of complaints submitted by cyclists, or their perceptions about cycling in particular areas, then a qualitative approach may fit best.But mixed methods might be a good choice if you want to meaningfully integrate both of these questions in one research study. For example, you could use a mixed methods design to investigate whether areas perceived as dangerous have high accident rates, or to explore why specific areas are more dangerous for cyclists than others. Keep in mind that mixed methods research doesn’t just mean collecting both types of data; you need to carefully consider the relationship between the two and how you’ll integrate them into coherent conclusions. Mixed methods can be very challenging to put into practice, so it’s a less common choice than standalone qualitative or qualitative research. Mixed methods research designsThere are different types of mixed methods research designs. The differences between them relate to the aim of the research, the timing of the data collection, and the importance given to each data type. As you design your mixed methods study, also keep in mind: Here are a few of the most common mixed methods designs. Convergent parallelIn a convergent parallel design, you collect quantitative and qualitative data at the same time and analyze them separately. After both analyses are complete, compare your results to draw overall conclusions. Example: Convergent parallel designIn your research on cycling safety in Amsterdam, you undertake both sides of your research simultaneously:
When you finish your data collection and analysis, you then compare results and tie your findings together. EmbeddedIn an embedded design, you collect and analyze both types of data at the same time, but within a larger quantitative or qualitative design. One type of data is secondary to the other. This is a good approach to take if you have limited time or resources. You can use an embedded design to strengthen or supplement your conclusions from the primary type of research design. Example: Embedded designAs part of a quantitative study testing whether the number of cyclist complaints about an area correlates with the number of accidents, you could “embed” a series of qualitative interviews with cyclists who submitted complaints to further strengthen your argument. The bulk of your research remains quantitative.Explanatory sequentialIn an explanatory sequential design, your quantitative data collection and analysis occurs first, followed by qualitative data collection and analysis. You should use this design if you think your qualitative data will explain and contextualize your quantitative findings. You can utilize the qualitative data to explain why accidents occur on specific roads, and take a deep dive into particular problem areas. Exploratory sequentialIn an exploratory sequential design, qualitative data collection and analysis occurs first, followed by quantitative data collection and analysis. You can use this design to first explore initial questions and develop hypotheses. Then you can use the quantitative data to test or confirm your qualitative findings. Example: Exploratory sequential designYou first interview cyclists to develop an initial understanding of problem areas, and draw preliminary conclusions. Then you analyze accident statistics to test whether cyclist perceptions line up with where accidents occur.
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See editing example Advantages of mixed methods research“Best of both worlds” analysisCombining the two types of data means you benefit from both the detailed, contextualized insights of qualitative data and the generalizable, externally valid insights of quantitative data. The strengths of one type of data often mitigate the weaknesses of the other. For example, solely quantitative studies often struggle to incorporate the lived experiences of your participants, so adding qualitative data deepens and enriches your quantitative results. Solely qualitative studies are often not very generalizable, only reflecting the experiences of your participants, so adding quantitative data can validate your qualitative findings. Method flexibilityMixed methods are less tied to disciplines and established research paradigms. They offer more flexibility in designing your research, allowing you to combine aspects of different types of studies to distill the most informative results. Mixed methods research can also combine theory generation and hypothesis testing within a single study, which is unusual for standalone qualitative or quantitative studies. Disadvantages of mixed methods researchWorkloadMixed methods research is very labor-intensive. Collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing two types of data into one research product takes a lot of time and effort, and often involves interdisciplinary teams of researchers rather than individuals. For this reason, mixed methods research has the potential to cost much more than standalone studies. Differing or conflicting resultsIf your analysis yields conflicting results, it can be very challenging to know how to interpret them in a mixed methods study. If the quantitative and qualitative results do not agree or you are concerned you may have confounding variables, it can be unclear how to proceed. Due to the fact that quantitative and qualitative data take two vastly different forms, it can also be difficult to find ways to systematically compare the results. Frequently asked questionsWhat is data collection?
Data collection is the systematic process by which observations or measurements are gathered in research. It is used in many different contexts by academics, governments, businesses, and other organizations. What are the main types of mixed methods research designs?
These are four of the most common mixed methods designs:
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