Deck 10: Mixed Methods Research

Question 1

Dr. Mix-It-Up conducted a mixed methods study whereby data generated from one-on-one interviews with university teachers about their students' behaviour in class was changed into quantitative data through frequency counting. For instance, Dr. Mix-It-Up counted the number of times that teachers used certain language in their interviews, such as "cell phones" and "Facebook" to develop a descriptive list of students' off-task behaviour during university courses. What is it called when Dr. Mix-It-Up changes qualitative data into quantitative data?

A) Qualitizing quantitative data
B) Quantitizing qualitative data
C) Side-by-side comparison
D) Front-to-back comparison

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What is changing one form of data (e.g., quantitative) into another form of data (e.g., qualitative) an example of?

A) Data transformation
B) Side-by-side comparison
C) Sequential convergence
D) Data reflexivity

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which mixed methods study design is depicted in the following image?

A) Exploratory sequential mixed methods design
B) Explanatory sequential mixed methods design
C) Concurrent mixed methods design with equal priority
D) Concurrent nested design

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which mixed methods study design is depicted in the following image?

A) Exploratory sequential mixed methods design
B) Explanatory sequential mixed methods design
C) Concurrent mixed methods design with equal priority
D) Concurrent nested design

Question 5

Which mixed methods study design is depicted in the following image?

A) Exploratory sequential mixed methods design
B) Explanatory sequential mixed methods design
C) Concurrent mixed methods design with equal priority
D) Concurrent nested design

Question 6

What is mixed methods research?

A) An approach to evaluating research in which all components of a research design align with one another
B) An approach to inquiry that systematically and purposefully combines quantitative and qualitative forms of research
C) A specific observation technique whereby researchers engage as a participant and researcher by taking part in activities and recording observations
D) A statistical analysis to use when researchers have two or more time points

Question 7

What type of mixed methods research study includes quantitative and qualitative components that are conducted at essentially the same time?

A) Concurrent mixed methods research design
B) Sequential mixed methods research design
C) Exploratory mixed methods research design
D) Explanatory mixed methods research design

Question 8

What are the two general ways to plan the timing of the quantitative and qualitative components within mixed methods research?

A) Concurrently or sequentially
B) Exploratory or explanatory
C) Internal or external
D) Nominal or ordinal

Question 9

What is a side-by-side comparison?

A) A data set that contains modes on opposing ends of a distribution
B) A qualitative data generation technique used specifically in mixed methods research designs
C) An option for data integration in mixed methods research designs
D) An experimental design option used in mixed methods research designs that includes matching study participants

Question 10

What type of mixed methods research study includes quantitative and qualitative components that are given unequal priority or weighting, with one method dominating while the other is embedded within the other method?

A) Concurrent nested designs
B) Concurrent transformation designs
C) Exploratory sequential designs
D) Explanatory sequential designs

Question 11

What is positive reporting bias?

A) A strategy to enhance the trustworthiness, rigour, and validation of a qualitative study
B) The process of taking oral data and reproducing it as faithfully as possible as a written text
C) A format for presenting research at a conference
D) The selective revealing or suppression of information in research

Question 12

Mixed methods research designs are largely undertaken by researchers with which philosophical worldview?

A) Constructivism
B) Transformative
C) Two-eyed seeing
D) Pragmatism

Question 13

Which of the following has been identified as a benefit of doing mixed methods research?

A) Blending philosophical worldviews
B) Assisting sampling
C) Navigating timelines
D) Access to resources

Question 14

Which type of mixed methods research design can be a means for establishing triangulation?

A) Concurrent designs
B) Transformation designs
C) Exploratory sequential designs
D) Explanatory sequential designs

Question 15

What type of data integration technique is used in the following example?
The purpose of this study is to investigate how athletes use self-talk during competition. An initial thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with 15 elite athletes identified nine themes about the use of self-talk. The themes were then numerically coded to statistically examine differences between self-talk uses by sport type.

A) Data transformation
B) Side-by-side comparison
C) Sequential convergence
D) Data reflexivity

Question 16

What type of mixed methods research design is depicted in the following example?
The purpose of this study was to examine a school-based childhood obesity prevention program. Students in a grade 3 classroom were assessed on height, weight, physical activity, and eating habits before and after the delivery of a four-month classroom-based obesity prevention program. Students were invited to participate in focus groups at the start of grade 4 to reflect on their experiences in the program during the previous year.

A) Exploratory sequential mixed methods design
B) Explanatory sequential mixed methods design
C) Concurrent mixed methods design with equal priority
D) Concurrent nested design

Question 17

What type of mixed methods research design is depicted in the following example?
Walking is a common form of physical activity among older adults. This mixed-methods study explored the environment of 71 older adults' walking routes. Objective geographic location data was obtained through an app on participants' smart phones for six months, and participants engaged in phone-based interviews on a weekly basis throughout the duration of the study. Each phone interview lasted between 20 and 45 minutes, and provided sufficient time for the participants to discuss their weekly activity, including walking experiences, environmental facilitators and barriers, and ideas for improvement. While objective geographical information (e.g., distance of route) provided some information on the types of walking routes the participants utilized, the recalled features of the environment (e.g., green space) provides strong evidence for how to improve older adults' walking routes.

A) Exploratory sequential mixed methods design
B) Explanatory sequential mixed methods design
C) Concurrent mixed methods design with equal priority
D) Concurrent nested design

Question 18

What should drive researchers' decisions about when and how to integrate quantitative and qualitative components in a mixed methods study?

A) The research question
B) Statistics
C) The sampling frame
D) Inference

Question 19

What term refers to the weight or emphasis assigned to the quantitative and qualitative components in a mixed methods design?

A) Implementation sequence
B) Priority
C) Integration
D) Nested

Question 20

What process can researchers engage in to reflect on all aspects of a research study before its implementation that might be relevant when planning how to integrate a coherent mixed methods study?

A) Peer-review process
B) Knowledge translation
C) Categorization matrix
D) Armchair walkthrough

Question 21

One option for researchers conducting a mixed methods study is to analyze the quantitative and qualitative data separately and bring the findings together after each independent analysis.

Question 22

Statistics, internal and external validity, natural setting, and purposeful sampling are all examples of defining characteristics of quantitative research.

Question 23

Multiple meanings, complexity of experiences, emergent and flexible design, and non-numerical data are all examples of defining characteristics of qualitative research.

Question 24

Mixing research methods for no good reason other than the sake of it can produce disjointed and unfocused research.

Question 25

A concurrent mixed methods research design occurs in two separate phases, whereby the quantitative and qualitative components are done one after the other.

Question 26

When planning mixed methods research, researchers need to consider many things including the implementation timing, priority, and integration of the quantitative and qualitative components.

Question 27

Concurrent mixed methods research designs are also called convergent designs.

Question 28

Explanatory sequential mixed methods designs consist of qualitative data collected in the first phase and quantitative data collected in the second phase.

Question 29

Exploratory sequential mixed methods designs consist of quantitative data collected in the first phase and qualitative data collected in the second phase.

Question 30

Researchers doing a mixed methods study should analyse one form of data in a direct effort to support or match the other form of data.

Question 31

The mixing or purposeful integration of the quantitative and qualitative components can occur at various stages of the mixed methods research process.

Question 32

Using a visual depiction, illustrate an explanatory sequential mixed methods design and an exploratory sequential mixed methods design. Be sure to clearly label each illustration.

Question 33

A colleague asks you to explain whether or not mixed methods approaches are appropriate to use in research studies. What would be your response (assuming your goal is to adequately inform your colleague about mixed methods research and whether or not it is appropriate)? You should provide justification for your answer, being sure to identify the important factors to consider in making your recommendation.

Question 34

Define concurrent nested designs.

Question 35

In your area of research interest, develop a research question that you could explore using a mixed methods research design.

Question 36

How do researchers conducting a mixed methods research design decide who and how many people will participate in their study?

Question 37

Discuss how researchers doing a sequential mixed methods study decide whether the quantitative phase or qualitative phase will be implemented first.

Question 38

Discuss the benefits and challenges of mixed methods research.

Question 39

Compare and contrast side-by-side comparison and data transformation as ways to analyze quantitative and qualitative data in a mixed methods study.

Question 40

Imagine that you are a researcher conducting a mixed methods study with the following purpose statement:
The purpose of this study is to examine the motivations of fantasy sports users.
Determine the implementation sequence, priority, and integration of the quantitative and qualitative components for your mixed methods study. Justify your decisions.