Use Of Mixed Methods Design Research Articles

Student voice in assessment and feedback (2011–2022): a systematic review

In recent years, there has been a growing body of research on student voice in the context of higher education, generating significant insights for pedagogical improvement. This systematic literature review aims to examine studies on student voice from 2011 to 2022, specifically those concerned with assessment and feedback in higher education. The review draws on 38 empirical studies and identifies the increasing use of mixed-methods designs in student voice research related to assessment and feedback. The analysis of these studies highlights that student voice research can improve students’ experiences, change teachers’ practices and inform university support concerning assessment and feedback. The review finds, however, that most studies were conducted in, or on students from, developed countries. It is necessary for researchers to engage students from different backgrounds to investigate their experiences of assessment and feedback. The results of the review also suggest that more longitudinal, mixed-methods studies should be conducted to generate further critical insights. Future research should regard students as partners in effective assessment and feedback practices, and a focus should be placed on students developing assessment and feedback literacy.

Mixed Methods Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice: a Systematic Review

The field of criminology and criminal justice encompass broad and complex multidisciplinary topics. Most of the research that falls under these areas uses either quantitative or qualitative methodologies, with historically limited use of mixed methods designs. Research utilizing mixed methods has increased within the social sciences in recent years, including a steadily growing body of mixed method research in criminal justice and criminology. The goal of this study was to examine how mixed method designs are being employed within research related to criminal justice and criminology. Our systematic review located 327 mixed method articles published between 2001 and 2017. Findings indicated most criminology and criminal justice research is being conducted within the specialty area of victimology. This study provides an overview of mixed methods research in criminology and criminal justice and also illustrates that most publications are not including methodological concepts specific to mixed methods research (e.g., integration). Along with our systematic review, we offer a series of recommendations to move mixed methods research forward in criminology and criminal justice.

The role of transaction cost and trust in e-loyalty: a mixed-methods study of ride-sharing

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore the trust antecedents and the effect of trust and transaction cost on passengers' e-loyalty in the context of mobile commerce enabled ride-sharing.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-methods research is adopted to investigate the phenomena of interest. The qualitative study was used to identify the context-specific trust antecedents. The quantitative study investigated the effects of trust and transaction cost on e-loyalty by combining the results of qualitative study.FindingsThree important context-specific trust antecedents were identified in qualitative study, namely online rating score, service quality and driving skills. The quantitative study indicates that driving skills, explicit cost and implicit cost are positively associated with trust. Trust and implicit cost have direct and positive effects on e-loyalty.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to understanding passengers' trust towards drivers in the context of mobile commerce enabled ride-sharing and the effect of trust on e-loyalty by including the transaction cost.Practical implicationsManagement to enhance passengers' e-loyalty to ride-sharing might involve the measures to promote trust relationship.Originality/valueLimited research has explored trust relationship for enhancing e-loyalty in the context of ride-sharing. The current study provides a novel contribution through an exploration of trust antecedents and the effects of transaction cost and trust on e-loyalty. The study has thrown light on the use of mixed-methods design in the research of user behavior in sharing economy.

Impact of Person-Centered Interventions on Patient Outcomes in Acute Care Settings: A Systematic Review.

Preventing adverse events is one of the most important issues in health care. The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the impact of person-centered interventions on patient outcomes in an acute care setting. The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Eligible interventions included person-centered interventions that address at least one of these outcomes: pressure ulcer, accidental falls, medication errors, and/or cross infection. The review showed that there is a paucity of evidence supporting the use of person-centered interventions in reducing patient falls. For the other outcomes, existing research provides an insufficient evidence base on which to draw conclusions. Theory of person-centeredness is still in its ascendency. Poor evidence may also be the result of quantitative research designs that are insufficient in studying the impact of a person-centered approach. We postulate that use of mixed-methods designs is beneficial and would give a clearer picture of the impact of person-centered interventions.

Plural variation in L1 and early L2 acquisition of German: social, dialectal and methodological factors

Due to high variation and competition of different potential forms, German noun plural formation is known to be challenging for children acquiring German as their first or second language. In order to disentangle linguistic, social and methodological factors, we investigate the acquisition of German noun plurals in 56 kindergarten children living in Vienna (Austria) at four data points from mean ages 3;1 to 4;8. The groups of children were balanced for socio-economic status, language background and gender. We use two different methodologies: (1) a picture-based plural elicitation test in which the plural is formed on the basis of a singular given by the experimenter, (2) spontaneous production data in kindergarten settings. Results demonstrate effects of linguistic background, socio-economic status and methodology: Monolingual high SES children score highest in both settings, but the SES and language gap is greater in the test than in spontaneous speech. If dialect forms are treated as correct plurals, the effects of SES and language background are slightly attenuated. We argue for the use of mixed-methods designs in research projects in order to get a comprehensive picture of children’s linguistic proficiencies, especially when investigating vulnerable populations.

Mixed Methods and Multisited Migration Research: Innovations From a Transnational Perspective

This article discusses the use of mixed methods design for transnational migration research. It draws on two currently expanding strategies that can form part of an integrated framework that reveals multiple complementary perspectives: (a) the incorporation of quantitative data and methods in what has been a largely qualitative field and (b) the use of multisited research that investigates individuals and families connected across borders. This framework can be supported by collaboration of researchers across methodologies and state borders, which is addressed as a third strategy. By drawing on one research project that investigates the role of transnationality in the reproduction of social inequalities, this article explores the benefits and challenges of this approach.

Success and challenges of measuring program impacts: An international study of an infant nutrition program for AIDS orphans

The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Zambia threatens maternal survival and jeopardizes the ability for families to care for their children. The Christian Alliance for Children in Zambia (CACZ) operates a program called Milk and Medicine (M&M) that distributes food, formula, and medicine at churches in the compounds. This article reports on a mixed methods study to evaluate the outcomes of the M&M program. On-site interviews with families combined with an analysis of a longitudinal data set were the methods used. The results of the study showed families face continuous hardship including hunger, unemployment, disease, and loss. Families expressed appreciation for the program and its staff and suggested improvements. The longitudinal data review helped researchers to recommend an improved protocol for data management. Improved data will assist researchers in an on-going evaluation to compare the growth rates of children in the study to the Zambian normal growth charts. Lessons learned from this evaluation validated the use of mixed methods design for exploratory research on an emerging program. Lessons were also learned about the difficulty of working in natural settings with political and cultural variations. Future evaluations of the M&M program are expected to shed light on more specific program impacts.

Use of mixed methods designs in substance research: a methodological necessity in Nigeria

The utility of mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) is becoming increasingly accepted in health sciences, but substance studies are yet to substantially benefit from such utilities. While there is a growing number of mixed methods alcohol articles concerning developed countries, developing nations are yet to embrace this method. In the Nigerian context, the importance of mixed methods research is yet to be acknowledged. This article therefore, draws on alcohol studies to argue that mixed methods designs will better equip scholars to understand, explore, describe and explain why alcohol consumption and its related problems are increasing in Nigeria. It argues that as motives for consuming alcohol in contemporary Nigeria are multiple, complex and evolving, mixed method approaches that provide multiple pathways for proffering solutions to problems should be embraced.

Mixed-Methods Designs in Mental Health Services Research: A Review

Despite increased calls for use of mixed-methods designs in mental health services research, how and why such methods are being used and whether there are any consistent patterns that might indicate a consensus about how such methods can and should be used are unclear. Use of mixed methods was examined in 50 peer-reviewed journal articles found by searching PubMed Central and 60 National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded projects found by searching the CRISP database over five years (2005-2009). Studies were coded for aims and the rationale, structure, function, and process for using mixed methods. A notable increase was observed in articles published and grants funded over the study period. However, most did not provide an explicit rationale for using mixed methods, and 74% gave priority to use of quantitative methods. Mixed methods were used to accomplish five distinct types of study aims (assess needs for services, examine existing services, develop new or adapt existing services, evaluate services in randomized controlled trials, and examine service implementation), with three categories of rationale, seven structural arrangements based on timing and weighting of methods, five functions of mixed methods, and three ways of linking quantitative and qualitative data. Each study aim was associated with a specific pattern of use of mixed methods, and four common patterns were identified. These studies offer guidance for continued progress in integrating qualitative and quantitative methods in mental health services research consistent with efforts by NIH and other funding agencies to promote their use.

Mixed methods research in the real world

The article discusses the increasing use of mixed methods designs in applied research, particularly work commissioned by government. The roots of this trend are discussed in the UK and US context, drawing out particularly the implications for qualitative methods, the role of benchmarks and quality standards, and the implications for critical research. Examples from socio‐legal research and research on social aspects of health and illness illustrate the argument.

How the novice researcher can make sense of mixed methods designs

The use of mixed methods designs has gained immense popularity in recent years, but as common to the fields in their first phase of fast development, the terminology and the concepts proposed to define and frame mixed methods research are growing increasingly more varied and technical at the same time. This tendency brings with it some hidden problems which novice researchers have to face in their pursuit from the stage of neophyte to the expert in methodological issues. This article demonstrates that pouring over the logic of more traditional research strategies (survey, experiment, case study, ethnography, action research, etc.) and deconstructing research designs into methodological aspects can facilitate the comprehension of the essential issues in the methodological construct of empirical research and thereby help novice researchers to cope better with the plurality of mixed methods designs proposed in the methodological literature.

Advancements in Contemporary Physical Therapy Research: Use of Mixed Methods Designs

The purpose of this article is to advocate for the use of mixed methods designs in contemporary physical therapist research. Mixed methods designs are used for collecting, analyzing, and mixing both quantitative and qualitative data in a single study or series of studies to both explain and explore specific research problems, thereby enriching the breadth and depth of understanding phenomena. These designs are particularly well suited for physical therapist researchers to reveal the complexity of disablement, rehabilitation, and recovery processes. Although contextual factors influence a person's health condition and recovery, they remain empirically less understood and underexplored by physical therapist researchers. To address this gap, the authors describe various combinations of quantitative and qualitative methods and data within a single study or set of related studies and the decisions that underlie the uses of these combinations. They include examples from current physical therapist research and applications from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model. They argue that the rigorous application of quantitative and qualitative methods and data can propel physical therapist research and practice forward by stimulating new research questions, creating a holistic understanding of patient injury and rehabilitation, and contributing to innovative, complex treatment interventions.