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Enhancing the Understanding of Integration in Mixed Methods Research by Reviewing Integration Strategies in Published Journal Articles: A Systematic Review

Zhou, Yi
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1596032081233456

Abstract Details

2020, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, Educational Research and Evaluation (Education).
Mixed methods research (MMR), regarded as the third research approach, has been widely adopted in a plethora of disciplines. Integration is the pressing issue regarding the legitimation, the added value, and the quality of using MMR, though inadequate literature has discussed this topic. This study reviewed the integration strategies, particularly the innovative integration strategies in the empirical studies applied MMR by using Cooper’s research synthesis approach within three databases from 2018 to 2019. Given the PRISMA methodology, 119 primary studies were synthesized in this review, including 91 categorized as generic MMR studies and 28 studies that adopted innovative integration strategies. Using the developed four-dimensioned codebook, three generic integration strategies were identified in 91 articles: (a) using good mixed methods (MM) research question to guide MM design, (b) using appropriate MM sampling strategy to obtain good data for achieving integration, and (c) using effective MM data mixing strategy to facilitate integration. Of the other 28 studies, three innovative integration strategies were identified at data collection phase: (a) using survey to collect both qualitative (QUAL) and quantitative (QUAN) data sets, (b) using visual support to collect both components, and (c) using high-tech methods to facilitate data collection. Another two innovative integration strategies were identified at data analysis and interpretation phase: (d) using data visualization and (e) quantitizing categorized QUAL data. Moreover, a thematic analysis was conducted to code the reported challenges among these published articles, whose major themes were the divergent issues of conducting MMR and the challenges pertaining to validity issues. Given the reported challenges, the identified integration strategies were advanced to solve relevant challenges. Based on these findings, this review provides an adapted MM integration evaluation checklist (AMMIEC) for MM researchers to gauge the integration quality and encourages the novice MM researchers to explore more innovative integration methods to realize efficient integration.
Yuchun Zhou (Advisor)
277 p.
Education
integration strategies; mixed methods research; systematic review; innovative integration strategies; evaluation checklist

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Zhou, Y. (2020). Enhancing the Understanding of Integration in Mixed Methods Research by Reviewing Integration Strategies in Published Journal Articles: A Systematic Review [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1596032081233456

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Zhou, Yi. Enhancing the Understanding of Integration in Mixed Methods Research by Reviewing Integration Strategies in Published Journal Articles: A Systematic Review. 2020. Ohio University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1596032081233456.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Zhou, Yi. "Enhancing the Understanding of Integration in Mixed Methods Research by Reviewing Integration Strategies in Published Journal Articles: A Systematic Review." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1596032081233456

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1596032081233456
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© 2020, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.