Tonight I watched a MAXQDA session by Timothy C. Gutterman from the Mixed Methods Program at the University of Michigan. Gutterman does research and serves as the editor for the mixed methods journal. Based on Creswell and Plano Clark 2018, there are five features of mixed methods. Mixed methods collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data, use rigorous qualitative and quantitative methods, use a mixed methods design, integrate the two forms of research, and use philosophy or theory as a lens. Quantitative data can include surveys, instruments, tests, observational checklists and reports with numbers. Qualitative refers to open-ended interviews, observations, documents, and audio-visual materials. Gutterman explained that qualitative intents are to learn participant views and quantitative methods measure variables. The integration of the two forms of research is what distinguishes it from other approaches. For this, Gutterman noted that a philosophy or framework guides the integration. The research question should reflect the need for integration. There are three core mixed methods designs: convergent, explanatory sequential, and exploratory sequential. Other complex designs include evaluation, experiments, case study, and participatory. Gutterman started explaining the convergent design as collecting both quantitative and qualitative data in similar timeframe. An example could be a survey with both qualitative and quantitative questions. The next design discussed was the explanatory sequential design that has two phases: a quantitative data collection and analysis and a qualitative interpretation phase. In contrast, an exploratory sequential design starts with a qualitative phase that builds into a quantitative phase for designing an instrument and then a phase for testing. At the design level, mixed methods designs can intersect with grounded theory and participatory research. At the methods level, mixed methods can connect data through sampling or build on approaches. The relationship between methods can vary: qualitative and quantitative samples can be the same, qualitative sample can be a subset of a larger quantitative sample, the qualitative sample can be enlarged by adding for bigger quantitative sample, qualitative and quantitative samples can be different, or samples can be taken at multiple hierarchical levels. Integration of methods can be done through matching the qualitative and quantitative approaches. Alternatively, integration can be through connecting or building from quantitative results to qualitative interview questions. For example: themes can help with scales, codes can help with variables, and quotes can help with items. Gutterman explained that integration during analysis can be through merging through comparison: bringing together qualitative and quantitative results together iteratively. Merging through relating can be done by examining qualitative themes by statistics or examining statistics by qualitative themes. Gutterman explained that traditionally results were reported through narrative or prose. Joint displays can help with side-by-side displays or themes by statistics, for example. The examples that Gutterman shared of side-by-side joint displays include columns for quantitative, qualitative and meta-inferences. Another example shared was a statistics-by-themes table. Themes, quantitative data, and quotes were placed in different columns allowing for quick comparisons. Gutterman used the MAXQDA segment matrix to compare documents and display one code at a time in an interactive way.
