Manuscript Reference: Powell, H., Mihalas, S., Onwegbuzie,

¶ … Manuscript Reference: Powell, H., Mihalas, S., Onwegbuzie, A., Suldo, S., Daley, C. (2008). "Mixed methods research in school psychology: A mixed methods investigation of trends in the literature." Psychology in the Schools. 45 (4): 291-309.

Mixed Methods.

The research topic is what is the value of a mixed methods approach to issues pertinent in psychology.

The purpose of the study was to explore what sort of utility a mixed methods approach brings to research topics of interest to the field of psychology. The evidence examined within this document denotes that the vast majority of research in this field is quantitative based, and that only a paltry amount of research actually uses a mixed methods approach. The findings indicate that a mixed methods approach can actually yield considerable data that may not necessarily be obtained by using either a solely qualitative or quantitative research approach.

Overarching Research Question: How is a mixed methods approach demonstrated and taught to students, and why is this approach not utilized more often in the field?

Specific Research Questions: One of the most important of the specific research questions sought to determine whether or not research would be improved by utilizing a mixed methods approach. The evidence offered to answer this particular questions, in which the authors of this document critiqued studies performed with only a quantitative or only a qualitative approach were critiqued and analyzed within a lens of a mixed methods approach, indicates that utilizing the former method allows for more detailed data than could otherwise be collected. Additionally, the evidence indicates that varying facets of a research study become elucidated when a mixed methods approach is involved.

Manuscript Reference: Shaw, R.L. (2004). "Making sense of violence: a study of narrative meaning." Qualitative Research in Psychology. 1: 131-151.

Type of Study: Qualitative

Research Topic: The phenomena of interest to this study were the effect of violence in films and its correlation to violence in actual life.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study was to test for any sort of relationship between the experience and implications of violence depicted in movies and that which occurs in real life. Additionally, the research within this study sought to determine the implications of the element of narration that are integral to both film and real life, and how that played a part in the effects of violence from the two aforementioned sources. The overall significance of the study was to further stratify and elucidate research into the phenomena of violence in popular culture.

Overarching Research Question or Theory: The principle research question was: what sort of relationship exists between the experiencing of dramatized violence and that which happens in real life?

Specific Research Questions/Philosophical Underpinnings: The factor of narration as it relates to both film and actual violence was explored to see what sort of effect it would play on both of these areas. Narrative was determined to be of immense significance in allowing participants to extract meaning from both types of violence. Another salient question that the research was concerned with was what exactly is the purpose of movie violence, particularly since it is so popular. The findings eventually indicated that this sort of violence is pedagogical as well as entertaining -- since it may be so far out of the realm of the daily life of some people.

Manuscript Reference: Pituch, K.A., Stapleton, L.M., Kang J.Y. (2006). "A comparison of single sample and bootstrap methods to assess mediation in cluster randomized trials." Multivariate Behavioral Research. 41 (3): 367-400.

Type of Study: Quantitative.

Research Topic: The phenomena of interest in this particular study were what the most effective means of employing cluster randomized samples may be.