Mixed methods can be described as a study design which employs qualitative and quantitative methods concurrently in order to answer the study question being investigated (Collins & O’Cathain, 2009). In contradiction of widespread belief, mixed approaches research isn’t only about combining part of individual research design to facilitate particular portions of the exploration. Nevertheless, mixed methods use a mixture of both methods, and intend to investigate phenomena, determine correlations, and identify relationships between the phenomena at hand. Mixed methods enable the study question to determine the application of the study design (Johnson & Onwuegbuzie, 2004). For instance, in case a study question enquires about binary variables as well as their correlation. Moreover, mixed methods research best serve the research questions that investigate the human emotional element, in which neither a quantitative or qualitative method single-handedly can answer this kind of question.
One strength of mixed methods research is that it provides strengths which counterbalance the weaknesses of both qualitative and quantitative study design (Johnson & Onwuegbuzie, 2004). However, mixed methods research has a limitation in that it upsurges the complexity of assessments. Mixed methods research is multifaceted to plan and carry out, as they necessitate cautious preparation to define all facets of investigation, counting the survey sample for quantitative as well as qualitative shares (parallel, embedded, or identical); timing (the series of quantitative and qualitative shares); and the design for incorporating statistics. Incorporating quantitative and qualitative statistics in study is habitually a hard stage for several investigators (Yang, 2014). A rationale for the utility of mixed methods research in psychology is that, psychology explores the human behavior and mind, which is a complex phenomenon that neither a quantitative or qualitative method can manage single-handedly and thus, is best investigated by use of mixed methods research.
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References
Collins, K. M., & O’Cathain, A. (2009). Introduction: Ten points about mixed methods research to be considered by the novice researcher. International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches, 3(1), 2–7.
Johnson, R. B., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Mixed methods research: A research paradigm whose time has come. Educational Researcher, 33(7), 14–26. doi: 10.3102/0013189X033007014
Yang, J., Zaitlen, N. A., Goddard, M. E., Visscher, P. M., & Price, A. L. (2014). Advantages and pitfalls in the application of mixed-model association methods. Nature genetics , 46 (2), 100.