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Research Seminar for

Educational Sciences

Prof. Dr. Chang Zhu

Department of Educational Sciences

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

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Mixed-methods research

� Mixed methods research combines

quantitative and qualitative

approaches by including both

quantitative and qualitative data in

one study.

� Mixed research (another name)2

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Mixed-methods research

• Combine quantitative and qualitative methods

at all stages of the data collection and analysis

• Combines depth (qualitative) and breadth

(quantitative)

• Overcomes the weaknesses of both methods

• Strengthens validity through triangulation

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The fundamental principle of

mixed research

• The researcher should use a mixture or

combination of methods that has

complementary strengths and no overlapping

weaknesses.

• There is a logic why mixing quantitative and

qualitative research approaches.

• Mixing should be systematic and well thought

out when planning and designing a research.

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Mixed-methods research designs

Concurrent Sequential

Equal

Status

QUAL +

QUAN

QUAL �QUAN

QUAN �QUAL

Dominant

Status

QUAL + quan

QUAN + qual

QUAL � quan

qual � QUAN

QUAN � qual

Quan � QUAL

qual→QUAN→qual

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Mixed-methods research

designs

• A sequential time order: the qualitative and

quantitative phases are conducted one after the

other

• A concurrent time order: the quantitative and

qualitative phases occur at approximately the

same time—parallel sub-studies.

• The choice depends on if the results of one phase will be

needed to inform the next phase and/or when the nature of the

research questions requires that a phase occurs after or before

another phase. A concurrent design can be done when both

kinds of information are needed at roughly the same time.

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Mixed-methods research designs

• QUAL�quan model (Exploratory)

• QUAN � qual model (Explanatory)

• QUAN-QUAL model/QUAL-QUAN

model (Triangulation)

• qual→QUAN→qual

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Mixed-methods research designs

• QUAL → quan model (Exploratory)� Qualitative data are collected first and are more heavily

weighted than quantitative data (phase I)

� An exploratory study comes first with observations or

open-ended interviews to identify concepts or seek for

understanding of a certain phenomenon.

� In a second phase, variables are identified from concepts

derived from the qualitative analyses.

� In phase II, conducts survey or other quantitative methods

to collect data; the validity of the qualitative results can be

enhanced by the quantitative results

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Mixed-methods research designs

• QUAN → qual model (Explanatory)

� Quantitative data are collected first and weighted

more heavily than qualitative data (phase I)

� Based on the findings of the quantitative data,

decides what type of qualitative data is needed in a

second study/ phase 2 as a source of

interpretation/explanation.

� The qualitative data analysis and interpretation can

be used to help explain or elaborate on the

quantitative results.9

Main types of mixed research

designs

• QUAN-QUAL/ QUAL-QUAN model

(Triangulation)

� equally weighted and are collected at the same

time in the same study

� the strengths of one method offsets the weaknesses

of the other method

� the fully integrated QUAN-QUAL approach is the

most challenging

� analyze and discuss if the sources from

quantitative and qualitative data revealed similar

findings or not 10

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Main types of mixed research

designs

• qual→QUAN→qual

• Dominant status sequential design

• The quantitative paradigm is given major emphasis

• The design occurs in three separate phases

• A qualitative phase: exploratory qualitative

information

• A quantitative phase: primary research question is

to be addressed by a quantitative approach

• A qualitative phase: explanatory information

Main types of mixed research

designs

• qual→QUAN→qual: an example

Phase I: open-ended questions or

interviews/focus groups to help determine the

content of the survey instrument

Phase II: survey instrument to collect

quantitative data

Phase III: select typical persons/samples for in-

depth interviews

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Research report with mixed-

methods

• The styles of writing: challenging to strike a

balance between the two forms of writing.

• Be clear about the research design, research

procedures

• Structure the reporting of results in a logic and

meaningful way

• Can be lengthy, so good structure is important

Example article

Title: Motivation beliefs of secondary school

teachers

Design: QUAN → qual (explanatory)

Study 1: quantitative: self-efficacy, academic

climate, collective efficacy

Study 2: in-depth semi-structured interviews

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Example article

Title: Pre-service and beginning teachers’

professional identity

Design: QUAL-QUAN (Triangulation)

QUAL: semi-structured interviews

QUAN: survey questionnaire: value, self-

efficacy, commitment, emotion,

micropolitics

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Assignment

• Read the example articles

• Prepare for your research proposal