Qualitative Quantitative and Mixed Methods Design

Research Approaches

Creswell and Creswell (2018) describe three primary research approaches: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods. Each approach has a different worldview that informs the researcher's methodology, data collection, analysis, and interpretation.

Qualitative Approach

The qualitative approach seeks to understand the subjective meanings, experiences, and perspectives of people through the collection and analysis of non-numerical data. The worldview associated with qualitative research is often considered constructivism or interpretivism, which recognizes the role of the researcher's interpretation and subjectivity in shaping research outcomes. The constructivist worldview asserts that reality is created by individuals through their experiences and perceptions. Qualitative research typically is exploratory and seeks to understand the meaning behind human behavior and experience. It involves collecting data through open-ended interviews, observations, and document analysis. In qualitative research, the researcher usually works closely with participants in their natural setting to gather data through these methods. Examples of qualitative research designs include ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, and case studies (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).

Phenomenology aims to explore the essence of a particular phenomenon through in-depth interviews with participants. Grounded theory seeks to develop theories based on the data collected, using an iterative process of data collection and analysis. Ethnography aims to understand a particular culture or social group by immersing the researcher in the group and observing and participating in their activities.

Quantitative Approach

The quantitative approach aims to measure and quantify variables through the collection and analysis of numerical data. The worldview associated with quantitative research is positivism, which assumes an objective reality that can be measured and tested through the scientific method. This approach often involves large samples of participants and the use of statistical analyses to test hypotheses. Examples of quantitative research designs include experimental, correlational, and survey research (Bloomfield & Fisher, 2019).

Examples of quantitative research designs include experimental research, correlational research, and survey research. Experimental research involves manipulating an independent variable to see its effect on a dependent variable while controlling for extraneous variables. Correlational research examines the relationship between two or more variables through statistical analysis. Survey research involves collecting data through questionnaires or interviews administered to a sample of participants.

Mixed Methods Approach

The mixed methods approach combines elements of both qualitative and quantitative research. It involves collecting and analyzing both numerical and non-numerical data. The worldview associated with mixed methods is pragmatism, which emphasizes the importance of using the most appropriate methods to answer research questions (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).

Examples of mixed methods research designs include sequential explanatory design, concurrent triangulation design, and sequential transformative design. Sequential explanatory design involves collecting and analyzing quantitative data first, followed by qualitative data to provide an in-depth understanding of the quantitative findings. Concurrent triangulation design involves collecting and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative data simultaneously to compare and contrast the findings. Sequential transformative design involves collecting and analyzing qualitative data first, followed by quantitative data to develop and test a theory.

Research Design Examples and Direction for Procedures

One example of 1ualitative research design is the ethnographic design: In this design, the researcher seeks to understand a particular culture or social group by immersing themselves in the group and observing and participating in their activities. The researcher would use methods such as participant observation and field notes to document their observations, and would conduct interviews or focus groups to gather additional data. The researcher would also aim to describe the culture or social group in detail, using thick descriptions to capture the complexity and richness of the phenomenon (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).

One example of quantitative research design is experimental design: In this design, the researcher seeks to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between variables by manipulating an independent variable and measuring its effect on a dependent variable while controlling for extraneous variables. The researcher would use a random assignment to assign participants to different conditions, and would use statistical analysis to compare the groups and determine if there is a significant difference between them. The researcher would also aim to quantify the relationship between the variables and to make generalizations to a larger population (Creswell & Creswell, 2018).

One example of mixed methods research design is concurrent triangulation design: In this design, the researcher collects and analyzes both qualitative and quantitative data simultaneously to compare and contrast the findings. The researcher would use a survey or experimental design to collect quantitative data, and would use statistical analysis to identify patterns or relationships in the data. The researcher would also use interviews or focus groups to gather qualitative data, and would use a comparison matrix to compare the quantitative and qualitative findings.