Assignment Instructions
The theoretical foundations of qualitative and quantitative methods are very different, but many researchers believe both methods should be used in the research study to increase validity and reliability. What advantages or disadvantages do you see in using both types of methods in a nursing study? Support your answer with current evidence-based literature.
Sample Answer
A combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods gives yield to mixed method research. Mixed method research paints a complete picture of the researched phenomenon other than qualitative and quantitative studies. Mixed method research is used when there is a need to increase the generalizability of the research due to a high research sample. This method of research enhances contextualization where the findings of the research are put into context and richer details are added to the conclusion (Wasti et al., 2022). Additionally, mixed-method research strengthens the validity of the research results and this strengthens the validity of the conclusions.
There are various advantages and disadvantages associated with mixed-method research. Mixed method research is essential in addressing multifaceted and complex research questions. For instance, in the same research, quantitative data can be used to measure the effectiveness of an intervention and qualitative data can be used to explore other participants' perceptions and experiences. The use of mixed method research enables the researcher to gain a rich and deep understanding of the phenomenon research and complement the findings in research (LinkedIn Community, 2023). Additionally, the use of mixed-method research is essential in generating new hypotheses, identifying any gaps in the literature, and enhancing the validity and credibility of the research findings.
The use of mixed-method research is associated with various disadvantages. Mixed-method research requires additional resources and skills to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. These extra skills and resources can impose additional time and resources. A researcher using mixed-method research must have a coherent and clear rationale and a suitable strategy and design for data integration (LinkedIn Community, 2023). Additionally, researchers must have an understanding of the potential contradictions and conflicts that may arise from the use of different approaches in research.
References
LinkedIn Community. (2023). What are the pros and cons of using mixed methods in research? LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/advice/0/what-pros-cons-using-mixed-methods-research
Wasti, S. P., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E. R., Sathian, B., & Banerjee, I. (2022). The growing importance of mixed-methods research in health. Nepal journal of epidemiology, 12(1), 1175. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9057171/