Week 10: Mixed Methods Research Designs and Methods - Coursework Example

The purpose of this piece of paper is to investigate the various research methods and designs. Additionally, it focuses on strategy inquiry and mixed methods formulation.Research is a fundamental practice that assists people to get the essential information to a problem or topic. It is through research that answers to ground breaking solutions found and aid in quandary solving in a specific of discussion. Mixed methods research refers to strategic research that incorporates different traditional methods with different assumptions.

It entails a combination of both quantitative and qualitative methods of research. Mixed method of research is a superior method of research as it provides and enhances the comprehension of research. There are a number of ways that give each approach aims in further describing the occurrence. In recent time, this method has become the most preferred method by practitioners, evaluators, and most funding agencies (Creswell, 2008).There are a number of approaches that can be used in mixed research methods.

This includes concurrent design, concurrent triangulation, sequential design and lastly, parallel design. Concurrent design exploits both the technique of quantitative and qualitative gathered simultaneously. The analysis and interpretation done separately of both data, but the findings based on both analyses. Secondly, concurrent triangulation is a design strategy selected to amalgamate both quantitative and qualitative data. The chief aim is analyzing and interpretation of data concurrently.

The final phase is integration of both data for further interpretation. Sequential design involves data collection where analysis with reference to one method used in the establishment of issues in the study. There is usually domination of one method in the analysis. Finally, parallel design involves both quantitative and qualitative methods that transpire simultaneously during the process (Johnson & Christensen, 2012).In reference to become a Pragmatic Researcher, the facts are that there exists a significant difference between the two components than similarities.

There exists distinction between qualitative and quantitative researchers as they pay details to generalization, logic, axiology, ontology, and epistemology. Many differences may arise from the both camps chiefly contributed by cropping up of both mis-claim and misconception of proponents. In the natural sciences, many properties of objects regarded capable to be measured with near perfect reliability where as in social sciences, majority of yield scores are to a certain degree unreliable. It is true that, in social science field, the case is that the technique implemented by positivist does not differ inherently scientific than the procedures employed by interpretivists.

Interpretivists also face criticism from their claim of multiple researches, hence becoming contradictory relying on the same accounts that become misleading which may lead many qualitative researchers adopting the idea that everything is to be regarded. It is the circumstance that numerous qualitative methods of analysis often remain private and unavailable for the public scrutiny. This scenario arises where the information analyzed may be sensitive or high value secrecy. It is usually for the best interest of the public not to access this information as it may cause unnecessary panic or unrest among the general population.

One barrier the researcher may encounter, it can be defined as the constant promotion of the ever misleading mythologies, about the characteristics of qualitative and quantitative research which may lead to discrediting of the research conducted. This may cause the rise of many questions that in the authentication of the data gotten through this procedure. A researcher may be forced to go extra miles in order to have enough information about the topic which he will be researching. This incidence may cause addition of unnecessary labor to the researcher hindering his work (Pan & Lopez, 2004).

The major context of the questions that I would have prepared would be what, how, why, and how much. These questions complement each other as they expound the question. This makes possible for the researchers to clarify the question hence having a comprehensive feedback. The use of the questions what, how, and why, defines the qualitative property of the question as how much, describes the quantitative aspect of the question. It is through these questions that lead to objectives and achievements.

It is for this reason that I believe most researchers especially journalist use this technique during their research. The use of mixed method research design exclusively utilized in research projects as it offers conclusive data and information which is fully liable for analysis (Tashakkori & Teddlie, 2009). ReferencesCreswell, J. W. (2008). Educational research: planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall.

Johnson, B., & Christensen, L. B. (2012). Educational research: quantitative, qualitative, and mixed approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE Publications.Pan, M. L., & Lopez, M. (2004). Preparing literature reviews: qualitative and quantitative approaches (2nd ed.). Glendale, CA: Pryczak Pub..Tashakkori, A., & Teddlie, C. B. (2009). Foundations of mixed methods research: integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches in the social and behavioral sciences. Los Angeles: SAGE.