Advancing education research through mixed methods with existing data

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of how integrating existing data into mixed methods research can advance education research. The knowledge-level continuum is a framework for mixed methods research with existing data that informs, and is informed by, how much is already known about the phenomenon of interest. Existing data are beneficial to the field of education because they can be used to advance how we design, implement, and evaluate education research. As qualitative and quantitative data become more robust and sophisticated, the potential for implementing mixed methods studies with existing data in education research is promising.