Mixed Methods and Digital Methods Flashcards
what are the five purposes for mixed method evaluations
triangulation, complementarity, development, initiation, and expansion.
what is meant by triangulation?
triangulation refers to the designed use of multiple methods, with offsetting or counteracting biases, in investigations of the same phenomenon in order to strengthen the validity of results.
The core premise of triangulation is that all methods have inherent biases and limitations, so use of only one method to assess a given phenomenon will inevitably yield biased and limited results. When two or more methods with offsetting biases are used, these methods converge or corroborate one another, and the validity is enhanced.
According to the purist, are mixed-method designs, in which the qualitative and quantitative methods are linked to contrasting inquiry paradigms, meaningful, sensible, and useful?
no.
They argue that the attributes of a paradigm form a “synergistic set” that cannot be meaningfully segmented or divided up.
different paradigms typically embody incompatible assumptions about the nature of the world and what is important to know.
According to the pragmatist, are mixed-method designs, in which the qualitative and quantitative methods are linked to contrasting inquiry paradigms, meaningful, sensible, and useful?
Yes.
Paradigm attributes are logically independent and therefore can be mixed and matched, in conjunction with methods choices, to achieve the combination most appropriate for a given inquiry problem.
According to the situationalist, are mixed-method designs, in which the qualitative and quantitative methods are linked to contrasting inquiry paradigms, meaningful, sensible, and useful?
The middle-ground situationalist position retains the paradigmatic integrity stance of the purists but also argues, like the pragmatists, that our understanding of a given inquiry problem can be significantly enhanced by exploring convergences in stories generated from alternate paradigms.
Describe a triangulation purpose
A mixed-method design with a triangulation intent seeks convergence/corroboration of results from different methods.
Describe a complementarity purpose
In a complementarity mixed-method study, qualitative and quantitative methods are used to measure overlapping but also different facets of a phenomenon, yielding an enriched, elaborated understanding of that phenomenon.
The complementarity intent can be illustrated using a qualitative interview to measure the nature and level of participants’ educational aspirations, combined with a quantitative questionnaire to measure the nature, level, and perceived ranking within peer group of participants’ educational aspirations.
The two measures in this example are assessing similar, as well as different, aspects of the aspirations phenomenon.
Describe a development purpose
mixing methods for development purposes involve the sequential use of qualitative and quantitative methods, where the first method is used to help inform the development of the second.
For example, a quantitative survey of program participants’ educational aspirations could be used to identify a purposive sample for more in-depth interviews about these aspirations.
Describe an initiation purpose
both consistencies and inconsistencies in qualitative compared with quantitative findings can be intentionally analyzed for fresh insights invoked by means of contradiction and paradox.
Describe an expansion purpose
It aims for scope and breadth by including multiple components.
This is commonly illustrated using qualitative methods to assess program processes and by quantitative methods to assess program outcomes.
Mentio some of the QUANT AND QUAL STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
word p. 43
WHY USE MIXED METHODS?
Richer insights through iterating between that which can be counted and that which cannot
o Social reality is multi-faceted and complex – methods need to be too!
o Increased validity - same findings with different methods
o Balance out weaknesses of the two methods
o Generate and validate theory in the same (overall) study
WHAT ARE SOME WEAKNESSES AND CHALLENGES of mixed methods?
Increased cost in terms of time and resources
Alignment and integration (qual and quant may drift)
o How do you merge results?
Conceptual differences
o How do you translate qualitative findings into items or scales?
Researcher as a ”Jack-of-all-trades and a master of none”?
What is meant by constructionism?
word p. 44
What is meant by pragmatism?
An approach to knowing using a ”what works” approach
Recognizes the existence of the natural physical world as well as the social and psychological world (language, culture, human institutions, subjective thoughts)
Rejection of a forced choice between positivism and constructivism
