copyright © allyn & bacon 2008 mixed method and action research designs chapter 12 this...

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2008

Mixed Method and Action Research Designs

Chapter 12

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Mixed Methods Designs

Designs combining quantitative and qualitative approaches to collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting data

Advantages– Incorporates the strengths of both qualitative and

quantitative approaches– Provides a more comprehensive view of the phenomena

being studied– Does not limit the data being collected



Disadvantages and limitations– Requires expertise in both methods– Requires extensive data collection and resources– It is popular to claim the use of mixed method

design even though one method is used superficially



Three types of designs– Explanatory– Exploratory– Triangulation



Explanatory designs– Quantitative data are collected first with qualitative data

collection following– Use of a questionnaire to provide an overview of students’

attitudes toward drug testing programs followed by several in-depth interviews of specific students with positive and negative attitudes (i.e., maximum variation sampling) to understand how those attitudes were shaped.



Exploratory designs– Qualitative data are collected first with quantitative data

collection following– A few interviews with students and a content analysis of

several surveys allowed a researcher to determine the important factors around which an attitudinal scale on drug testing programs was developed. Administration of this survey gave an overall view of students’ attitudes to a specific program being used at a local school.



Triangulation designs– Quantitative and qualitative data are collected at

the same time to provide a more comprehensive and complete set of data

– The use of a scale addressing attitudes toward drug testing programs could be administered to the students in a school. Information from focus groups and interviews could be used to confirm the conclusions drawn from the survey.



Seven steps to conduct mixed method research– Determine the feasibility of a mixed method design– Determine the rationale for a mixed method design– Determine the data collection strategies and designs– Determine the specific research questions– Collect data– Analyze data– Write the report



Evaluating a mixed method design– Each approach has been done well– Examine the rationale and then apply appropriate

quantitative or qualitative criteria


Action Research

A systematic investigation conducted by practitioners

Action research is done to provide information immediately to improve teaching and learning

Emphasis is on teachers, counselors and administrators, who carry out the research


Action Research

Benefits of Action Research– Creates mindset for school improvement– Enhances decision-making– Promotes reflection and self-assessment– Instills a commitment to improvement– Creates a more positive school climate– Impacts practice directly– Empowers those to participate


Action Research

Conducting Action Research– Select a focus or topic for study– Determine your design and data collection

strategies– Summarize and interpret the data


Action Research

Consumer Tips for Evaluating Action Research– Determine motivation and involvement of the

researcher– Look for consistency between research question

and methodology– Look for whether multiple methods of data

collection have been utilized


Action Research

Consumer Tips for Evaluating Action Research– Confirm that there has been an emergent, cyclical

process of research-action-reflection– Determine the presence of external monitoring or

feedback

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