An Explanation Of Mixed Method Designs Psychology Essay

Published Date: 23 Mar 2015

Combining methods allows for one method compensating for weaknesses or blind spots of the other, but the different methods remain autonomous, operating side by side (Flick, 2006 cited in David E. Gray, 2009, p. 213). This means that by combining both the research methods we can compare our analyzed quantitative data with the obtained qualitative information to check whether there are any gaps between the results obtained. An illustration of mixing methods for triangulation purposes was conducted by Hughes, et al., (1997 cited in Alan Bryman, 2001). The main objective of this study was to know the appeal of 'designer drinks' (new range of fortified wines that became popular in UK in the 1990s) to young people. The mixed method strategy triangulated the results obtained from both the methods. The young people (12-13 years) adopted experimental approach and preferred designer drinks while the oldest group tended to think designer drinks as immature drinks. The findings of the study were corroborated by both qualitative and quantitative methods. Thus, a researcher can measure results from both the methods and look for any gaps in the study by corroborating findings from both the methods.

COMPLEMENTARITY

In a complementarity mixed methods study, quantitative and qualitative methods are obtained to measure overlapping but also different elements of a phenomenon (David E. Gray, 2009). This means that quantitative and qualitative methods reflects two different aspects of the population in the study yet the results from both the methods when studied together will give clear understanding of the whole population we are studying. A study of D. Miller's (1994) described by Alan Bryman (2001) on mass consumption of goods in Trinidad suggested that quantitative approach helps him to know social structures, marriages, ethnicity in the society and on the other hand, qualitative approach helps to know consumption of consumer goods in the families through observation and in-depth interviews. Thus, in this study results from quantitative survey gives

DEVELOPMENT

Greene et al.,(1989) suggests that results of one method can be used for development of the other method. The results obtained by a researcher from one particular method provides base for doing research with the other method. Laurie and Suvillan (1991) cited in Alan Bryman (2001) suggested that before conducting quantitative survey with structured questionnaire in British household Panel Study Wave-I, a qualitative survey was carried out to understand intra-household allocative processes in order to have clear understanding of concepts for developing questionnaire. Therefore, both the methods provide base to each other for conducting research.

INITIATION

The mixed method strategy helps a researcher to get insight into the research problem and also uncovers hidden truths which will remain uncover if both the methods are not used simultaneously. According to David E. Gray (2009) "In contrast to triangulation which seeks to combine methods towards convergence, initiation uses mixed methods to uncover paradoxes, new perspectives and contradictions". Sutton and Rafaeli's study (1988) cited in Alan Bryman (2001) shows that how researcher can get better insight into the research problems by using both the methods. The hypothesis is formulated that when staff is friendly to customers, sales will be better as compared to situations when the staff is not friendly. However, the quantitative survey results were reverse of what authors anticipated. Further, a qualitative survey was conducted with four stores which included observations, semi-structured interviews and casual observations. The results suggested that sales do have a relationship with emotions of staff, however, it is the other way round i.e., due to high volume of customers, work pressure on staff get increased and it directly effects their emotions as they do not have much time for pleasantries. Thus, mixed method approach helps to solve riddles which is difficult to solve otherwise.

Quantitative Methods

Use of structured questionnaires to obtain data

ADVANTAGES

Triangulation: Validating results

Complemetarity: Studying results of both the methods together

Development: Provides base to research with other method

Initiation: Clear understanding of problems

Mixing Methods

Use of both the methods in a study

Qualitative Methods

Use of methods like observation, casual interactions, in-depth interviews to obtain more likely of non-quantifiable information

Fig 1. Advantages of Mixing Methods in Research Studies

Some of the other advantages of mixing methods includes filling gaps in research study identified by Bryman (1998a, 1992) cited in Alan Bryman (2001). There are situations when alone quantitative or qualitative methods used in research study may not help to understand the reasons behind particular results. In that case, use of both the methods will help to fill gaps in the research study. A research study of Barker (1984) cited in Alan Bryman (2001) suggested that quantitative methods used with qualitative methods helps in filling gaps and get clear understanding of research problem. Her research focused on groups of people becoming Moonies (Members of Unification Church) and for this she used qualitative methods like observation and in-depth interviewing. However, structure questionnaire was used for getting information on social class and religion background which was otherwise not possible through qualitative methods only.

LIMITATIONS OF MIXING METHODS

Fielding and Fielding (1986) cited in David E. Gray (2009) suggests it is not always benefitable of mixing methods. Alan Bryman (2007, 1:7) conducted a study in which he conducted interviews with 20 UK social scientists to understand "Barriers to Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Research". He suggested that "In interviews, most of the researchers expressed concerns about how far they and other researchers genuinely combine quantitative and qualitative findings. They sometimes acknowledged that this was a problem area for the development of mixed methods research".

METHODOLOGICAL PREFERENCES:

"Some mixed methods researchers tend to emphasize one set of findings because they have greater faith in one rather than the other, usually because of their methodological predilections" (Alan Bryman, 2007, 1:7). This means that compiling of results from both the methods sometimes make it difficult to look over the whole report as integration of both the methods. The audiences with different perspectives focus on findings of either approach (quantitative or qualitative) to the research study.

SKILL SPECIALISMS:

According to Reiss (1968) cited in Alan Bryman (2007, 1:7), in a research study where both quantitative and qualitative methods are used, team should have skilled personnel's from both the fields. Further, suggested by Alan Bryman (2007, 1:7) problem of integrating the results arises as "Skill specialisms may lead to compartmentalization of roles and responsibilities that can hinder the integration of findings". Thus, it is also one of the limitations of mixing methods that not only specialized skills are required but also restricting roles of personnel's in the team as both the specialists have different perspectives and methods.

NATURE OF DATA:

As suggested by by Alan Bryman (2007, 1:7) "Researchers may feel that one set of data turns out to be more intrinsically interesting or striking than the other set". Sometimes, information from either of the methods found to be more interesting than the other. In that case, audience tends to focus on that particular method. Generally, qualitative information seems to be more interesting than information obtained from quantitative survey.

PROBLEM OF EXEMPLARS:

According to Alan Bryman (2007, 1:7), "the difficulty interviewees had in nominating exemplary mixed methods research is that it may well be that the relative absence of well-known exemplars makes it difficult for researchers to draw upon best practice when it comes to combining findings". In the field of social research, mixed methods have not been used rigorously by many researchers which make it difficult to get exemplars for those who want to follow mixing of methods.