Using mixed methods in
educational research
Professor Tristram Hooley
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Some key terms
Methodology the overall philosophy of what you are
doing.
Research design how you translate this philosophy
into a series of practical strategies related to the current
research questions.
Methods specific techniques of data collection and
analysis.
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Overview
What are mixed methods?
The methods menu
Mixing strategies
An example project
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www.derby.ac.uk
Overview
What are mixed methods?
The methods menu
Mixing strategies
An example project
www.derby.ac.uk/icegs
www.derby.ac.uk
Alternative names
Mixed methods research
Multi-methods research
Integrated research methods
Combined research methods
Hybrid research
Etc.
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Mixed methods research
Describes research designs which use multiple methods,
often combining methods drawn from both quantitative and
qualitative paradigms.
It is possible to arrive at this position from a range of
ontological and epistemological stances, but it is not simply
the best of both worlds nor is it a compromise.
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Why do we combine different research
methods?
Pragmatic
reasons
Paradigmatic
reasons
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Who is planning to use mixed methods
Why?
What are you mixing?
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Overview
What are mixed methods?
The methods menu
Mixing strategies
An example project
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What methods are you planning to use?
What other methods are you aware of?
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A (inevitably flawed) methods
framework
Exploratory
Evaluative
Quantitative
Qualitative
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Some methods
Surveys
Interviews
Focus groups
Data mining
Field work
Observation
Document analysis
Visual methods
Experiments
And many more and many
variations
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Overview
What are mixed methods?
The methods menu
Mixing strategies
An example project
www.derby.ac.uk/icegs
www.derby.ac.uk
The concept of research design
Research projects should be designed to address the
research questions that they seek to answer.
Consequently each one should be different.
Mixed methods research designs can be fixed or
emergent.
However the following generic designs may be useful in
stimulating thinking. Note the typology is mine but draws
on various other typologies from the literature.
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More is more
Lots of data is collected using lots of different methods.
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Research question #1
Research question #2
Method #3
Method #2
Method #1
Differentiation
Research question #3
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Embedded
Quantitative data collection
Qualitative data
e.g. extended open
answer questions
Visual data e.g.
submission of a
photo or image
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Triangulation
Research questions
Method #1
Method #2
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Connected
Testing
Focusing
Focusing
Testing and
exploring
Defining
Exploring
Defining
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Interwoven methods
Shared questions across methods
Common coding frameworks
Cross-cutting analysis
Data may be merged
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Overview
What are mixed methods?
The methods menu
Mixing strategies
An example project
www.derby.ac.uk/icegs
www.derby.ac.uk
Brightside
Hooley, T., Hutchinson, J. & Neary, S. (2015).
Ensuring quality in online career mentoring. British Journal of Guidance and
Counselling. Published online.
Hooley, T., Hutchinson, J. and Neary S. (2014)
Evaluating Brightside's Approach to Online Mentoring. Derby: International Centre for
Guidance Studies. University of Derby.
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References
Bazeley, P. (2009). Editorial: Integrating data analyses in mixed methods research. Journal of
Mixed Methods Research, 3(3): 203-207.
Creswell, J. W., Goodchild, L., & Turner, P. (1996). Integrated qualitative and quantitative research:
Epistemology, history, and designs. In Smart, J. (Ed.), Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and
Research (Vol. 11, pp. 90136). New York: Agathon Press.
Cresswell, J.W. & Plano Clark, V.L. (2010). Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research.
London: Sage.
Greene, J. C., Caracelli, V. J., & Graham, W. F. (1989). Toward a conceptual framework for mixedmethod evaluation designs. Educational evaluation and policy analysis, 11(3), 255-274.
Johnson, R. B., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Mixed methods research: A research paradigm
whose time has come. Educational Researcher, 33(7), 14-26.
Morse, J. M., & Niehaus, L. (2009). Mixed Method Design: Principles and Procedures (Vol. 4). CA:
Left Coast Press.
Symonds, J. E., & Gorard, S. (2008). The death of mixed methods: Research labels and their
casualties. Presentation to the British Educational Research Association Annual Conference,
Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh. .
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Tristram Hooley
Professor of Career Education
International Centre for Guidance Studies
University of Derby
http://www.derby.ac.uk/icegs
[email protected]
@pigironjoe
Blog at
http://adventuresincareerdevelopment.wordpress.com
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egs www.derby.ac.uk/icegs
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