Achieving integration in mixed methods designs-principles and practices.

ABSTRACT: Mixed methods research offers powerful tools for investigating complex processes and systems in health and health care. This article describes integration principles and practices at three levels in mixed methods research and provides illustrative examples. Integration at the study design level occurs through three basic mixed method designs-exploratory sequential, explanatory sequential, and convergent-and through four advanced frameworks-multistage, intervention, case study, and participatory. Integration at the methods level occurs through four approaches. In connecting, one database links to the other through sampling. With building, one database informs the data collection approach of the other. When merging, the two databases are brought together for analysis. With embedding, data co

SUBMITTER: Fetters MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4097839 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature