Convergent Parallel

Mixed Method
design
1. Description of the Design
2. Data collection
3. Data Analysis
4. Interpretation
5. Validity
6. Research example
1. Description of the Design
2. Data collection
3. Data Analysis
4. Interpretation
5. Validity
6. Research example
Description of the Design
Key assumption
The most familiar method
Both qualitative
and quantitative

Quant data
Quant data provide
analysis
different kinds of
information. And
Result (converging,
together they yield
diverging)
results that should
Qual Data
Qual analysis be the same.
1. Description of the Design
2. Data collection
3. Data Analysis
4. Interpretation
5. Validity
6. Research example
1. Description of the Design
2. Data collection
3. Data Analysis
4. Interpretation
5. Validity
6. Research example
 Data collection
The key idea is to
collect both forms of
data using the same
Interview observations or parallel variables,
constructs or
Qualitative concepts.
data

Documents Records

Numeric
Records
The data for the
qualitative data
collection will be
Instrument Quantitative observational
smaller than that of
data
the quantitative data
data checklist

collection.
Collect information from the same number of individuals on
both the qualitative and quantitative database.

Weigh the qualitative cases so that they equal the N in the

Not considering the unequal sample size as a problem.

Qualitative
sample
1. Description of the Design
2. Data collection
3. Data Analysis
4. Interpretation
5. Validity
6. Research example
1. Description of the Design
2. Data collection
3. Data Analysis
4. Interpretation
5. Validity
6. Research example
 Data Analysis

Side by Side Data

Joint Display of
Data
1. Description of the Design
2. Data collection
3. Data Analysis
4. Interpretation
5. Validity
6. Research example
1. Description of the Design
2. Data collection
3. Data Analysis
4. Interpretation
5. Validity
6. Research example
 Interpretation
Written into a discussion section of the study.

The discussion section includes a report comparing the results from the two
databases and noting whether there is a convergence or divergence between the two
sources of information.

The comparison typically does not yield a clean convergent or divergent situation
and the difference exists on a few concepts, themes or scales.

When the divergence occurs, steps for follow up exists.

The researcher can state divergence as a limitation in the study without further
follow up as well. However this approach represents a weak solution.
1. Description of the Design
2. Data collection
3. Data Analysis
4. Interpretation
5. Validity
6. Research example
1. Description of the Design
2. Data collection
3. Data Analysis
4. Interpretation
5. Validity
6. Research example
Validity Potential threat
Unequal sample sizes - providing
less of a picture on the qual side
Quantitative than the larger N on the quant side.
validity The use of different concepts or
variables on both sides.
May yield incomparable and
difficult to merge the findings.
A lack of follow up on conclusion
Qualitative when the scores and themes diverge
validity
also represents an invalid strategy
or inquiry.
1. Description of the Design
2. Data collection
3. Data Analysis
4. Interpretation
5. Validity
6. Research example
1. Description of the Design
2. Data collection
3. Data Analysis
4. Interpretation
5. Validity
6. Research example
Classen and colleagues (2007)
 BDI and Bodily Pain
Scale Linguistic analysis
(Quantitative data) (LIWC)

A diverging result

Pearson’s product-
moment correlations,
Expressive writing
one-tailed statistical
(Qualitative Data)
test, one-way analysis of
variance

Data collection Analysis Results