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Assessing Internationalization of Higher Education Research: Mixed Methods Research Quality and Missing Data Reporting Practices

McKinley, Keanen
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7002-6642
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1637062860843666

Abstract Details

2021, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services: Educational Studies.
Internationalization is the process of integrating an international, intercultural, or global dimension into higher education. Researchers have shown that internationalization holds many potential benefits for its stakeholders, including students, faculty, higher education institutions (HEIs), and governments: students can learn languages and develop intercultural competence; faculty can gain skills to manage student diversity in classrooms; HEIs can improve the quality of teaching and learning; and governments can foster peace and mutual understanding. Yet these benefits cannot be realized if the field does not improve its research practices. Many internationalization researchers are practitioners struggling with shouldering the unique role of scholar-practitioner, and researchers have raised concerns about the quality of scholarship. However, there appears to be no research detailing how to improve research practices, despite the many calls to do so. The purpose of this three-paper dissertation is to begin filling this literature gap and improve the rigor of research within the field of internationalization by intersecting internationalization research with the research methodology literature. The first paper considers the updated definition of internationalization that highlights its larger purpose—“to make a meaningful contribution to society”—and stresses the field must become more inclusive and respect diverse approaches for assessing “meaningful contributions.” This paper presents an amended framework that emphasizes the agency of internationalization stakeholders. By recognizing the diversity of perspectives and their own agency, stakeholders can reevaluate the trajectory of higher education to create meaningful outcomes for all. The second paper assesses mixed methods research (MMR) quality, where quality is operationalized as the alignment between MMR rationales and study designs. Proper alignment ultimately ensures meaningful conclusions. This paper reviewed MMR in the European student mobility literature, an area of research that has increasingly utilized MMR in large, multi-year studies. Concerns arose for 10 of the 24 sampled articles, revealing the need to establish MMR frameworks to guide future MMR studies and allocate internationalization resources. This is particularly urgent since MMR approaches will likely be used more frequently in the future. The third paper turns to missing data, an issue that besets internationalization researchers who work with small samples and populations with high rates of item nonresponse. Missing data are a persistent problem that can lead to imprecise conclusions, so faithfully reporting missing data helps readers consider missing participant perspective and assess whether chosen methods are appropriate. A second review of the literature was conducted to examine missing data reporting practices. Among the 35 sampled studies, 22 did not address missing data, signaling the need to improve missing data reporting practices and establish standards. Internationalization researchers must improve their research practices, and this dissertation takes the first step toward detailing how to improve the rigor of internationalization research. The findings from this dissertation indicate the considerable amount of work—and research opportunity—that remains for the field. Collaboration across the field will be crucial, but by recognizing their own agency, researchers can begin to engage one another, reevaluate the rigor of scholarship within the field, and realize the benefits of internationalization for all.
Christopher Swoboda, Ph.D (Committee Chair)
Holly Johnson, Ph.D (Committee Member)
Amy Farley, Ph.D (Committee Member)
Education
internationalization; agency; mixed methods; international student mobility; missing data; rigor

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McKinley, K. (2021). Assessing Internationalization of Higher Education Research: Mixed Methods Research Quality and Missing Data Reporting Practices [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1637062860843666

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McKinley, Keanen. Assessing Internationalization of Higher Education Research: Mixed Methods Research Quality and Missing Data Reporting Practices. 2021. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1637062860843666.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McKinley, Keanen. "Assessing Internationalization of Higher Education Research: Mixed Methods Research Quality and Missing Data Reporting Practices." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1637062860843666

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1637062860843666
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.