The popularity of mixed methods approaches in evaluation has increased significantly over the last decade, although there is still some
controversy regarding these approaches. The mixed methods approach has gained traction in the field of policy evaluation since it represents
both a compromise and a challenge for proponents of more conventional evaluation work. Mixed methods studies can range from quantitative work supplemented by case studies at one end, to qualitative work supplemented by secondary or survey types of analyses on the other. The difficulty often arises when methods employing different views of reality or methods designed for different purposes are employed in the
evaluation. In addition, mixed methods may attempt to combine different approaches to bias, causality, validity, and sampling. There are also considerations having to do with levels of analyses, concurrent or sequential data collection, and triangulation. assignment a 2 page paper that
addresses the following: Assume you were to employ a mixed methods approach to your Final Project.
Explain how you would integrate both qualitative and quantitative methods in your design
. Using the guidelines from the USAID (2013) resource, describe your formulation and explain
your reasoning: What qualitative method will you use?
How will your qualitative analysis method supplement your quantitative methods?
Will you use triangulation?
SOLUTIONS
A mixed methods approach involves collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data in a single study. This approach allows researchers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of a research problem by providing a rich description of a phenomenon (qualitative) while also examining its generalizability and making statistical inferences (quantitative).
To integrate both qualitative and quantitative methods, a researcher can first identify the research questions and determine which approach is best suited to answer each question. For example, qualitative methods may be used to explore complex phenomena, while quantitative methods may be used to test hypotheses or measure associations.
In terms of qualitative methods, there are various approaches that can be used, such as interviews, focus groups, and observations. The choice of method will depend on the research questions and the population being studied. The qualitative analysis method chosen should supplement the quantitative methods by providing additional information about the experiences, perspectives, and motivations of the participants.
Triangulation, or the use of multiple methods to investigate a research question, can be employed to enhance the validity and reliability of the findings. For example, a researcher could use qualitative data to explore a phenomenon in-depth and then use quantitative methods to measure the frequency or prevalence of the phenomenon in a larger population.
Overall, a mixed methods approach can provide a more comprehensive understanding of a research problem by combining the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative methods.
