PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO RESEARCH

BAHROZ HASHIM MAWLOOD

2017

WHAT IS PRAGMATIC APPROACH?

• The pragmatic approach involves using the method which appears best suited to the research problem.

• Pragmatic researchers therefore give themselves the freedom to use any of the methods, techniques and procedures associated with quantitative or qualitative research. They recognize that every method has its limitations and that the different approaches can be complementary.

MIXED METHODS DEFINITION

• Mixed methods research is a methodology for conducting research that involves collecting, analyzing and integrating quantitative (e.g., experiments, surveys) and qualitative (e.g., focus groups, interviews) research. This approach to research is used when this combination provides a better understanding of the research problem than either of each alone.

A MIXED METHODS RESEARCHER…

• Collects both quantitative and qualitative data• Mixes them at the same time or one after the

other.• Emphasizes on both equally or unequally

SITUATIONS IN WHICH MIXED METHODS APPROACH IS USED…

• To compare results from quantitative and qualitative research

• To use qualitative research to help explain quantitative findings

• To explore using qualitative research and then to generalize

findings to a large population using quantitative research

WHAT IS THE REASON FOR USING MIXED METHODS?

• The insufficient argument – either quantitative or qualitative

• Multiple angles argument – quantitative and qualitative approaches provide

different “pictures”

• The more-evidence-the-better argument – combined quantitative and

qualitative provides more evidence

• Community of practice argument – mixed methods may be the preferred

approach within a scholarly community

• Eager-to-learn argument – it is the latest methodology

WEAKNESSES OF MIXED METHOD DESIGN (ONWUEGBUZIE & JOHNSON, 2004)

• Time Consuming & Expensive.

• Difficult finding a researcher with experience in both qualitative and quantitative research.

• Researcher has to learn multiple methods and be able to know how to mix each method effectively.

• The research design can be very complex.

• Takes more resources to plan and implement this type of research.

• It may be difficult to plan and implement one method by drawing on the findings of another.

• It may be unclear how to resolve conflicts that arise in the interpretation of the findings.

ADVANTAGES OF MIXED METHOD RESEARCH

• Provides strengths that compensate the weaknesses of both quantitative and qualitative research. For instance, quantitative research is weak in understanding the context or setting in which people behave, something that qualitative research makes up for.

• Also, qualitative research is seen as deficient because of the potential for biased interpretations made by the researcher and the difficulty in generalizing findings to a large group. Quantitative research does not have these weaknesses. Thus, by using both types of research, the strengths of each approach can make up for the weaknesses of the other.

• Provides a more complete and comprehensive understanding of the research problem than either quantitative or qualitative approaches alone.

TRIANGULATION

• One of the most advantageous characteristics of conducting mixed methods research is the possibility of triangulation. Triangulation is the use of several means (methods, data sources and researchers) to collect data on the same topic. This is a way of assuring the validity of research through the use of a variety of methods which involves different types of samples as well as methods of data collection.

• Triangulation allows one to identify aspects of a phenomenon more accurately by approaching it from different points using different methods and techniques. Successful triangulation requires careful analysis of the type of information provided by each method, including its strengths and weaknesses.

• It is used to double (or triple) checking results. The idea is that one can be more confident with a result if different methods lead to the same result.

THE PURPOSE OF TRIANGULATION

• The purpose of triangulation is to increase the validity of the results.

• Cohen and Manion (2000) define triangulation as an "attempt to map out, or explain more fully, the richness and complexity of Human Behavior by studying it from more than one standpoint."

• Altrichter et al. (2008) state that triangulation "gives a more detailed and balanced picture of the situation."

• According to O’Donoghue and Punch (2003), triangulation is a “method of cross-checking data from multiple sources to search for regularities in the research data."

• According to Erina Audrey (2013) “Triangulation also crosschecks information to produce accurate results for certainty in data collection.”

ADVANTAGES OF TRIANGULATION

• the use of a variety of data sources (data triangulation)

• the use of several different researchers (investigator triangulation)

• the use of multiple perspectives to interpret the results (theory triangulation)

• the use of multiple methods to study a research problem (methodological

triangulation)

CONCLUSION • Mixed methods researchers need to be versatile and innovative with a

lot of research skills that exceed those needed for single mode research. They need to explicitly state their stance before defending their methodological choices and demonstrate a good knowledge base of mixed methods research designs and methodological considerations.

• They need to demonstrate proficiency and competence in both the quantitative and qualitative methods chosen as well as proficiency and competency in applying the rules of integration to methods and data analysis.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• http://www.alzheimer-europe.org/Research/Understanding-dementia-research/Types-of-research/The-four-main-approaches

• http://www.psychsoma.co.za/qualitative_inquiry_growt/2010/09/pragmatic-approach-in-mixed-methodology.html

• http://rjh.goingeast.ca/2011/11/05/pragmatism-and-mixed-methods-research/

• http://www.dental-tribune.com/articles/specialities/orthodontics/11251_what_is_pragmatic_research.html

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multimethodology

• https://lon03.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/disadvantages-of-mixed-method-design/

• http://resourcecentre.foodrisc.org/mixed-methods-research_185.html

• https://www.researchgate.net/post/What_are_the_advantages_and_disadvantages_of_mix_method_research

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangulation_(social_science)