Mixed Methods researchers

Comment

Comment by Hazel Burke on August 31, 2010 at 11:57am

Dear all
I thought you like a toolkit we've produced on some of the practical challenges of working on, or leading, mixed methods projects. It comes out of a workshop we had on mixed method working and I thought that this group might have come across similar challenges!
The toolkit is free to download from the Realities website: Practical challenges of working on mixed methods projects
Hazel

Comment by Dr Thomas Groenewald on August 27, 2010 at 6:30pm

A series of three articles 'Secrets of Postgrad Success', first published 30 July, second - dealing, among others, with mixed methods - this week and the third scheduled 24 September 2010 in the South African Mail & Guardian. The first two and a short article on supervision by the same author are hyperlinked at http://psychsoma.co.za/qualitative_inquiry_growt/2010/08/road-map-to-postgraduate-qualification.html#tp

Comment by Eli Lieber on August 20, 2010 at 5:56pm

I too will recommend Pat's chapter in the new handbook. I also co-wrote a chapter with Tom Weisner for the handbook (#22, Meeting the Practical Challenges of Mixed Methods Research) in which we discuss some of the real obstacles researchers face in the process of choosing and implementing mixed methods and thoughts about the subsequent data integration and analysis. In the process, it was a treat to review the work that would be appearing in the handbook and all interested parties should be aware that the editors made a strong push to the authors to reduce an emphasis on theory (more prominent in the first edition) and focus more on how-to actually do the work. I think the result is a fine collection of work from a prominent group of scholars.

Incidentally Pat, no apology necessary. We were pleased that you had noticed and discussed EthnoNotes in your chapter which was our predecessor product to Dedoose. We talk more about EthnoNotes in our chapter--yet Dedoose was just blossoming at the time and then really came to life during the publication cycle. Dedoose offers so much more than EthnoNotes, thus looking back we certainly wish the timing was a bit different--maybe for the third edition.

In addition, though a bit dated and truly focused on qualitative data analysis, I'd also recommend chapter 2 in Weitzman and Miles, Computer Programs for Qualitative Data Analysis, as they do a fair job of framing the practical questions related to the needs of the user and project in making decisions about tools.

Great conversation and I'll toss in one more thought. I recently participated in a mixed methods meeting hosted by the WT Grant foundation and there was a consensus view that while people have been practicing mixed methods research for decades, a true mixed methods 'field' is finally emerging. That said, we also agreed that there are many useful ways to practice mixed methods and letting the problem drive these decisions is often the wise approach. Whet will continue to be important is that as we conduct this work, it will serve the field well to be transparent and clear about how we have chosen to implement certain methods and the rationale for the decisions. In doing so, we will together build a strong foundation for how, when, and why (or why not) particular approaches are effective.
Regards, Eli

Comment by Dr. Swati on August 20, 2010 at 3:03pm

Thanks for refernces

Regards

Comment by Pat Bazeley on August 20, 2010 at 11:59am

Most software programs for qual or quant analysis don't prescribe a method - they simply offer tools that you use in the way/s that best suit the methodology and methods you bring to it. Several of the traditionally-qualitative software programs now, also, offer considerable assistance to those doing mixed methods research, allowing for both combination of different kinds of data, and for transformation of qualitative coding into case-by-variable tables that can be imported into a statistics program for further analysis.
In the just-published second edition of the Handbook of Mixed Methods Research (ed. Tashakkori and Teddlie, Sage, 2010) I have a very comprehensive chapter covering many possibilities and programs using computers to combine qual and quant data and/or analyses. (Sorry Eli - Dedoose wasn't on the horizon when I wrote it!)
For an older and less comprehensive coverage (but covering the concepts and some programs), see Bazeley, P. (2006). The contribution of computer software to integrating qualitative and quantitative data and analyses, Research in the Schools, 13(1), 64-74. Available at: http://www.msera.org/rits_131.htm Reprinted in in Vogt, W. P. (Ed., 2008). Selecting Research Methods (Vol. 4, pp. 1-16). London: Sage
And for a slightly more lighthearted overview of ways of integrating methods through the metaphors that are used to describe it, take a look at the keynote paper I delivered to the Mixed Methods conference in July - available on my website (it doesn't appear to be on the conference website yet) at www.researchsupport.com.au on the mixed methods resources page.
Pat

Comment by Dr. Swati on August 20, 2010 at 4:13am

Is it possible to use more than one software for the analyse of different kinds of data? in such cases how we will conclude?

Comment by Eli Lieber on August 19, 2010 at 7:57pm

In response to Dr. Swati's question...If I understand correctly, I would certainly agree that different research topics demand the collection of different kids of data and decisions about analysis plans and tools would follow based on the nature of the data and analysis goals. Some tools are more flexible and open than others which can constrain what you are able to accomplish with the tool and the perspectives you can bring to your data. These challenges are particularly true in mixed methods research where approaches from different disciplines and epistemological positions are being brought together. I think what is important here is to maintain as much transparency in the data and the process as possible and this was certainly a guiding principle in the design and development of Dedoose.

I think another interesting issue you raise is that indicators of a phenomenon may vary from one country to another--one culture to another. In my years of work in Asia after having grown up in a more Western culture it was easy to see these types of contrasts throughout society--from how children are socialized, to how people are expected to show respect to others, to how things like depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and achievement are understood and treated. Nevertheless, I think you can often find parts of these conceptions that are shared and parts that are not--this is what makes researching in these area so fascinating and, in fact, are valuable to discover, explore, understand, and communicate in research findings. Doing this kind of analysis in a tool like Dedoose would likely lead you to use multiple descriptor sets (ex. one for individual characteristics, one for country characteristics, and perhaps one for cultural characteristics) with each being defined by variables appropriate for the particular level of analysis. Depending on the other data to be collected, some of these descriptor variables might also be dynamic and allow for identifying change over time. Then I would imagine a coding system would develop that could capture both more shared and more differentiating content. The subsequent analysis could then explore the nature of the qualitative data and coding activity as a function of any of the descriptor variables and, hopefully, expose patterns in the data that inform the research questions.

Hope I'm on point. And with all that said, I guess there is no simple answer. We certainly intended that the Dedoose design can be used broadly and in many flexible and creative ways, but ultimately, as you point out, it comes down to the research problem, the epistemological approach, the data collected, the desired deliverables, and the skills of the researcher or research team.

Comment by Dr. Swati on August 19, 2010 at 6:34am

hello zahid what kind of research u r doing in International relation, i am from communication background and this particular topic facinates me a lot, i read a lot, though i am not doing any specific work in this area, but earlier used to teach current affairs as a subject in my previous college....it will be nice to discuss issues related to this topic and the methods u are using for ur research

Comment by Dr. Swati on August 19, 2010 at 6:21am

Its nice to know that there is some software which can help in analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, i want to raise a small issues, generally researchers seelct their research topics on the basis of a particular problem/ community need assessment/ communication need assessment/ felt needs/ ....etc. in which they design their research questions/ objective/ and methods....and do assessments/evaluation/ analysis on the basis of units or parameters which they decides for those particular RQ/ objectives .....my question is, is it possibel to use same data analysis software (made for analysis of qualitative/ quantitative/ mixed methods of research) for all thses different studies. how they fulfill each studies data analysis requirnment. because all problems are not universal....each countries indicators or constraints for a specific issue or problem are different.

Comment by Mehdi Riazi on August 19, 2010 at 4:23am

Hi again Eli,

Currently we're planning to run some workshops on quant and qual data analysis softwares in our department. For example, SPSS at different levels and NVIVO for qual data analysis. I thought it will be a good idea to include Dedoose as a mixed-method one. Since you're involved in the development of the software it will be a good idea to invite you to present it. Could you please contact me off-list: mehdi.riazi@mq.edu.au
Best;

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