![]() ![]() Thus the NIH document overlooked discussions about criteria, examples, and models widely accessible in recent social and behavioral science literature. Furthermore, it did not refer to published studies that illustrate mixed methods research or address specific models of mixed methods investigations. 8 In a brief section at the end of the NIH document, the task force noted the “broad appeal” of combining qualitative and quantitative methods in public health research, and it recommended that investigators be specific about how their methods will be combined and how the findings will be integrated.Īlthough the NIH document suggested several models for combining quantitative and qualitative data, it did not describe specific criteria that primary care researchers might use to design mixed methods investigations. 7 Additionally, in 1999 a National Institutes of Health (NIH) task force in the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research issued guidelines for conducting rigorous qualitative and multimethod investigations. Mixed methods inquiry as a new research paradigm has found a breeding ground in the North American Primary Care Research Group. 4, 5 This integration calls for collecting quantitative and qualitative data concurrently or in parallel or gathering information sequentially. 2, 3 More recently, investigators emphasized that quantitative and qualitative methods can be mixed, such as in collecting qualitative data before quantitative data where variables are unknown, or using qualitative methods to expand quantitative results to advance study aims. Almost 15 years ago, authors introduced the importance of integrating quantitative and qualitative research in a single study or program of inquiry. The concept of mixed methods research is not new to primary care. When used in combination, both quantitative and qualitative data yield a more complete analysis, and they complement each other. The underlying logic of mixing is that neither quantitative nor qualitative methods are sufficient in themselves to capture the trends and details of the situation. 1 This form of research is more than simply collecting both quantitative and qualitative data it indicates that data will be integrated, related, or mixed at some stage of the research process. Mixed methods investigations involve integrating quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis in a single study or a program of inquiry. With an expanded use of qualitative research in health services investigations, mixed methods or multimethod research holds potential for rigorous, methodologically sound studies in primary care. We also discuss the limitations of our study and the need for future research. ![]() The integration of the quantitative and qualitative data in these studies occurred between data analysis from one phase and data collection from a subsequent phase, while analyzing the data, and when reporting the results.ĭISCUSSION We recommend instrument-building, triangulation, and data transformation models for mixed methods designs as useful frameworks to add rigor to investigations in primary care. Data collection involved quantitative and qualitative data gathered both concurrently and sequentially. The studies showed diverse forms of priority: equal priority, qualitative priority, and quantitative priority. Qualitative data consisted of semistructured interviews and field observations that were analyzed using coding to develop themes and categories. Quantitative data collection involved structured interviews, observational checklists, and chart audits that were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical procedures. RESULTS Of the 5 studies analyzed, 3 included a rationale for mixing based on the need to develop a quantitative instrument from qualitative data or to converge information to best understand the research topic. We then used the criteria to evaluate 5 mixed methods investigations published in primary care research journals. METHODS We first identified criteria from the social and behavioral sciences to analyze mixed methods studies in primary care research. ![]() ![]() The objective of this study was to use criteria from the literature to evaluate 5 mixed methods studies in primary care and to advance 3 models useful for designing such investigations. BACKGROUND Mixed methods or multimethod research holds potential for rigorous, methodologically sound investigations in primary care. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |