A mixed methods approach incorporates quantitative and qualitative elements in ways that the information gathered complements each other (Creswell, 2007). Using a qualitative approach, the researchers collect in-depth descriptions and information about the research topic. In most qualitative studies, researchers ask questions beginning with how, where, when, which that elicit descriptions and narrations of situations, places, people, events among other issues (Maxwell, 2012). Qualitative information may leave out bits of information about numbers. The quantitative approach complements the research by asking questions such as how much/how many? What is the frequency? These questions elicit numerical answers which when incorporated into the qualitative study form a comprehensive research.
A researcher may combine qualitative and quantitative study aspects by asking respondents to rate something on the scale say 1-5 with 1 being “poor”, and 5 being “Excellent”. In the study at hand, the respondents can rate the effectiveness of their crisis management teams on the same scale (Maxwell, 2012). In the analysis of such as study, the researcher can state that a certain “percentage” (quantitative aspect) rated the crisis management team as “excellent” (qualitative aspect). Whenever a researcher wishes to establish numbers and put those numbers into a certain context to address some shortcomings especially in management, it is crucial to use the mixed methods approach.
Mixed methods approach is advantageous over the other two methods in that it balances efficient data collection and the analysis of data in a certain context. While the quantitative aspect will capture large figures, the qualitative aspect places the figures into suitable contexts (Creswell, 2007). Maxwell (2012) notes that whereas the mixed methods are quite complementary, some situations may warrant only one research method since the mixed-method approach is tedious, time consuming and may require larger funding and complicated data analysis methods. When a researcher wants to establish largely numerical information such as the existence of crisis management teams without the need to evaluate their effectiveness, s/he can use the quantitative approach only.
When a researcher is conversant with both methods, he can avoid ambiguities when formulating research questions. He can avoid duplicities that can result in respondents offering conflicting data. For instance, a person can rightly frame some questions to start with how much, how many, what is the frequency among other questions when all he wants to gather is quantitative data.
The strategies I can use to become more comfortable with the mixed methods research are knowing how to formulate questions for each qualitative and quantitative approach, and being conversant with the analytical methods and software for analyzing data.
The knowledge of mixed methods of research is essential in research since it presents not only statistical figures, but also puts the figures to contexts. For instance, finding that effective crisis management teams comprise of eight members is not as important as stating the competencies, modalities of work as well as the responsibilities of the team in order for it to deliver desirable results.
References
Creswell, J. W. (2007). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Maxwell, J. A. (2012). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
