Our Group Plan for a Mixed Methods Study

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Our Group Plan for a Mixed Methods Study

• by John W. Creswell, Ph.D. and Vicki L. Plano
  Clark, M.S.
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• jcreswell1_at_unl.edu vpc_at_unlserve.unl.edu
• and Workshop Participants
• Andrews University, July, 2004

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Title

• Explaining how doctoral students learn research
  methods A mixed methods investigation
• Round Table participants ways of learning mixed
  methods
• The learning process for mixed methods research
• Mixed methods research An approach to research
  discovery
• Mixed methods approach to learning mixed methods
  research

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Data Collection

• Quantitative data
• Survey knowledge (pre and post)
• Behavior/Observational check list facilitator
  participants
• Demographics
• Qualitative data
• Essay/Journal documents
• Focus group interviews
• Videotape
• Documents about leadership program

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Reasons for mixing

• Follow up the quantitative results with an
  in-depth exploration with qualitative data

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Skills, Time, and Resources

• Skills
• Quantitative Statistical analysis Design or
  locate a survey instrument Stats software
  Observation check list training Knowing how to
  administer instruments Confidentiality and
  permissions
• Qualitative Design questions for focus group
  Managing logistics Qualitative analysis
  Interviewing skills Recognizing personal bias
• Time 3 weeks of data collection
• Resources Administrative resources Equipment
  Printing costs Software

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Audience(s)

• Participants of program
• Program faculty
• Publication editors
• Funding officers/Funding agencies

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Overall Research Question

• Quantitative
• How did the workshop improve our knowledge and
  attitudes toward mixed methods research?
• What was the effectiveness of the workshop for
  learning mixed methods?
• Qualitative
• How did you learn about mixed methods research?
• What did you experience?
• In what ways have you applied what you learned?
• What did you find as useful during the workshop?
• In what ways were you impacted?

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Type of Mixed Methods Design

• Mixed methods research is a design for
  collecting, analyzing, and mixing both
  quantitative and qualitative data in a single
  study or series of studies to understand a
  research problem (Creswell, 2004)
• Design type This study will use a Sequential
  Explanatory design
• Reason for type Follow up the quantitative
  results with an in-depth exploration with
  qualitative data. That is to explain the
  quantitative results.

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Data Analysis

• Quantitative analysis
• Descriptive analysis (M, SD,)
• Correlational analysis Relate variables
  Regression models
• Qualitative analysis
• Transcribe
• Code and look for themes (5) and interrelate
• Mixing

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Sept 04 Oct 04
Nov 04 Dec
04-Jan 05 Mar 05
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Purpose Statement Sequential Explanatory Design
The purpose of this two-phase, explanatory mixed
methods study will be to obtain statistical,
quantitative results from a sample representing
the doctoral students in the leadership program
at Andrews Univ. and then follow-up with a few
individuals in the workshop to probe or explore
their learning in more depth. In the first
phase, quantitative research questions will
address the relationship between the effect of
the workshop on attitudes and knowledge of 40
participants in the mixed methods workshop. In
the second phase, qualitative focus group
interviews with three groups of 7 individuals
will be used to further explore attitudes and
knowledge.