Full Description
Focusing on research designs for projects that collect both qualitative and quantitative data, this practical book discusses strategies for bringing qualitative and quantitative methods together so that their combined strengths accomplish more than is possible with a single method. The approach is broadly interdisciplinary, reflecting the interest in mixed methods research of social scientists from anthropology, communication, criminal justice, education, evaluation, nursing, organizational behavior, psychology, political science, public administration, public health, sociology, social work, and urban studies. In contrast to an "anything goes" approach or a naïve hope that "two methods are better than one," the author argues that projects using mixed methods must pay even more attention to research design than single method approaches. The book's practical emphasis on mixed methods makes it useful both to active researchers and to students who intend to pursue such a career.
Contents
Chapter 1. An Introduction and Overview
Chapter 2. Pragmatism as a Paradigm for Mixed Methods Research
Chapter 3. Research Design and Research Methods
Chapter 4. Motivations for Using Mixed Methods Research
Chapter 5. The Sequential Priorities Model
Chapter 6. Preliminary Qualitative Inputs in Quantitative Research Projects
Chapter 7. Preliminary Quantitative Inputs in Core Qualitative Research Projects
Chapter 8. Follow-up Qualitative Extensions in Quantitative Research Projects
Chapter 9. Follow-up Quantitative Extensions in Qualitative Research Projects
Chapter 10. Multipart Sequential Designs
Chapter 11. Finding the Expertise to Combine Multiple Methods
Chapter 12. Conclusions: Further Thoughts About Research Design
