3.3 Framing MixedMethod by Grounded theoryGrounded theory formsthe based line of qualitative research which is inductive in nature. It tendsto progress from inductive through different methods and stages. Likewisegrounded theory could also actualize its aims with the introduction ofdeductive method to conceptualized its framing from none participantobservation to theoretical content. This style of research methodology couldfit in the mixed method to actualize its aim. Just like grounded theory themixed methods using both inductive and deductive methods in its researchermethod, the inductive method is qualitative methods and the deductive methodsis quantitative methods. Inductive promotes an unintentional observation thatis, the openness of the researcher to discovery, usually from observation andexperiences from communication with the people, culture and the environment thatwill guide the conceptualization of new ideals which forms theories.
Thedeductive research could be applied depending on the nature of the projectbegin carried. In some case the researcher need to make use of already existinginformation or data which helps to randomized the sample into a frame foranalysis.Mixed method hasprocedures like the grounded theories, which can go from abstract to noneabstract vice versa (Driscoll et. al 2007). But grounded theory is moreparticular about the none abstract way of researching issues which tend toportrait a none bias way of research. When using mixed methods, it always tendsto qualify the quantitative aspect by drawing logical reasoning from theethnography of the study which is analyzed in comparison to the quantitativeinformation. 4.0Delineate Mixed Method Framed in Grounded Theories from other MethodsA study using groundedtheory gives a series a rules and procedures which is likely to begin with aquestion, or even just with the collection of qualitative data.
As researchersreview the data collected; repeated ideas, concepts or elements becomeapparent, and are tagged with codes, which have been extracted from the data. Thisgive the research work a much more robust fact from subjective statement toobjectiveness facts. The outcome can be framed within the qualitative methodslike in the social science and humanities or in quantitative frame such as thenatural and the physical science for quantifying reasoning.Mixed methods is a morerigorous process both in its qualitative and quantitative methods, it takes adetailed account. It brings interplay of both the qualitative and thequantitative perspective to research style moving from co-mixed within methodor a co-switch between methods at different levels or stages.
It is a dynamicmethod which helps in flexible evaluation to outcome and impact analysisirrespective of lay down theories which reduces research bias to the nearestminimum. It gives a new inspired thought of reasoning to fresh ideals inresearch, taking away the stereotype to research methods These categories maybecome the basis for new theory. Thus, mixed method framed in grounded theoryis quite different from the traditional model of research, where the researcherchooses an existing theoretical framework, and only then collects data to showhow the theory does or does not apply to the phenomenon under study.
5.0Advantages and Disadvantages of Mixed Method5.1AdvantagesMixed method (MM) areused in the validation of the data collected using both qualitative and quantitativemethods, the variability in the data collection leads to a greater validity inthe result or outcome, it gives a broader horizon into the research project.
Mixed method (MM)answer questions from of multiple perspective that is, from qualitative toquantitative, brings both inductive and deductive reasoning into play. It giveroom to question like what, why, how, and if. It creates flexibility within andbetween its contexts.Mixed method tries toclose the gaps or lags both in content and context of the data collected, itensure that the data of analysis is robust for a broader explanation orin-depth coverage of the outcome orimpact analysis.Mixed methods isdynamic in its evaluation processes, ensure to curb and manage the researcherper-existing assumptions about a researcher area, problem or issues.
It tendsto validate the researchers un-biasness from its inductive method allowingopenness to fresh ideas. Mixed method is bothsupplementary and complimentary in research work. When one method does notprovided sufficient information to the analysis or research work.Mixed method is goodfor data transformation, it can be used to transform qualitative data toquantitative and vice versa.
5.2DisadvantagesThe conversion ofqualitative data to quantitative data often leads to the loss of itsflexibility and depth, which are the main advantages to qualitative research.This loss occurs because qualitative coding is multidimensional (Bazeley,2004). Quantitative coding are fixed in a single dimension, sometimesdichotomous.Mixed method design isvulnerable to collinearity or multi-collinearity, this results from thequalitative data begin quantitized (Roberts 2002).
When researcher try to putthe data into categories to enable coding of the data collineartiy occurs. The controllingfor collinearity by the researcher reduces the validity of the Informationprovided. Mixed method is expensive to conduct and it is time consuming.
It isalso difficult to find a researcher with adequate experience in both QUANT ANDQUAL research methods. Another issue in mixed methods is how to interpretconflicting results from both QUANT and QUAL analysis. 6.
0 Assessing MixedMethods for Development StudiesMM is a very importanttool in research design for development planners and policy makers. MM gives adeeper insight to the issues or projects by describing and analysis the factsas related to individuals, groups, societies, and their sociological backgrounds.It’s a good tool of policy advocacy for implementation, because MM examinesquantitative result and describes its facts in the simplest term to the policydevelopers, backing up the narrative discourse with data presented inpercentages, frequency of occurrences and averages.Most recently, MM is apower tool for recent fields of study such as monitoring and evaluation ofprograms and projects.
Development itself is an evolutionary subject matter,with dynamic issues. In the same way the development researcher and plannerstends to monitor the progress made at every given stage of the project becauseof its constant changes. MM impact assessment helps researcher and developmentplanners to see the corresponding changes at different stage of the projectwhich aids clarity.
Impact assessment it a vital part of the evaluationprocess, it alert the planner on the extent to which the program as affectedthe targeted group. These conclusions are usually drawn from the statisticaldata or analysis of the data collected.MM is a good tool forforecasting and predicting programs and projects and can also assess theprobability of occurrences for changes base on its qualitative processes fromin-depth inductive assessment.
