Mixed Method Research Practices

Science often utilizes multiple research methodologies in order to improve accuracy within the data. Unfortunately, when using multiple methods, it's possible to introduce issues that actually reduce accuracy, or complicate research enough that drawing current and future conclusions become very difficult. In numerous areas, especially in the medical field, mixed method research is extremely common, yet the way that this research is collected and analyzed isn't necessarily straight forward, and this can lead to complications.

That's why researchers, along with the National Institute of Health's Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, came up with a complete document that advised best practices in mixed methods research, appropriately named "Best Practices for Mixed Methods Research in the Health Sciences." The goal, of course, was to attempt to create an expert guide to these types of best practices, in order to ensure that more researchers follow them. It's not just about how to analyze your own research either. It's also how to allow other researchers to easily go back and look at your data without worrying about making a mistake in their interpretation.

The paper is the best place to start in order to fin the specifics of these best practices, and it's not something that should be rehashed in full here. But here are several interesting points from the paper: Mixed Method Shouldn't Be Used Haphazardly – Make sure that your study actually needs mixed methods research, or if there is a better way to use it. Any time you combined different types of data and research in order to draw conclusions you're putting your research at risk.

Timing Matters – Make sure that you are also performing mixed method research, particularly with regard to qualitative and quantitative data, at about the same time. Spreading it out may waste time and cause inconsistencies. Pay Attention to Sampling Issues – When using mixed methods data collection, it's not uncommon to introduce sampling problems.

One part of your research may have an adequate sample size, while the other part may not. Have a Strategy in Place for Strange Results – Any time you use different data collection methods, you also risk having results that contradict each other or are not as strong as expected. Have a strategy with how you deal with that information.

These are just a few of the issues that may arise with mixed methods research. For more, check out the paper, and make sure that you're running your research the right way.