ESRC Research Methods Programme

ESRC is developing an initiative on mixed-methods. This workshop brings together a number of issues that have arisen in the context of RMP-funded projects together with a need to identify what future developments are needed in this area.

SUMMARY

Angela Dale

E-social science and mixed-methods

Rob Proctor

A summary of e-Social Science’s potential contribution to mixed methods

Wednesday, 26 October

Welcome and introduction

Angela Dale and Michael Bright

Why do we need mixed methods? Should we differentiate integration versus mixed-methods?

Alan Bryman, University of Leicester

Slides Key Points

Discussant: Sarah Irwin, University of Leeds

How do we deal with the epistemological differences implicit in different methods? Do the differences in underlying epistemologies preclude one taking a pragmatic approach to mixed-methods, e.g. by using them to answer a specific research question.

Peter Halfpenny, University of Manchester

Slides

Discussant: Martyn Hammersley, Open University

Martyn Hammersley

Continuing the dialogue: Peter Halfpenny on paradigms and methods

What methodological opportunities arise when one brings together different methods? What can new technologies, e.g. e-social science, contribute?

Can experience and practice from different methodological perspectives be mutually helpful or informative? E.g. different ways of obtaining respondents, different kinds of sampling, different views on informed consent.

There will be a number of short contributions from a range of perspectives, with contributions from

Andrew Pickles (Slides), Rob Proctor (Slides), Alicia O'Cathain (Slides) Key Points, Tony Coxon (Slides)

Thursday, 27 October

Chair: Julia Brannen

Mixed methods as a means to overcome methodological limitations of qualitative and quantitative research

Udo Kelle, University of Marburg, Germany
(Slides) Key Points

Discussion

Parallel sessions: Examples of mixing methods in practice

Taking examples of mixed-methods projects, can we identify the benefits/problems/issues that need to be resolved?

Room A

Room B

Telling better stories: narrative accounts of mixed methods research

Jane Elliott, Institute of Education (Slides) Key Points

Numbers aren't the whole story - but neither is quali

Sue Stanley, Unilever (Slides) Key Points

Synergies and tensions in using multiple methods to study vulnerability - asking questions

Jo Moran-Ellis , Victoria D. Alexander, Ann Cronin, Jane Fielding , Hilary Thomas, University of Surrey (Slides) Key Points

Combining qualitative and quantitative methods in a study of computer-assisted medical decisions

Lorenzo Strigini, City University

Mark Hartswood, Edinburgh University (Slides) Key Points

Room A

Room B

13.45

How can qualitative longitudinal studies and survey-based longitudinal studies complement each other?

Janet Holland, USB, Bren Neale, Leeds (Slides) Key Points

Nick Buck, Essex (Slides)

Why should we consider multimodality in relation to our data?

What are the implications for data analysis and the integration of different kinds of data?

Bella Dicks, University of Cardiff (Slides)

Interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary working in data analysis

Nick Emmel, Kahryn Hughes, Joanna Greenhalgh, University of Leeds (Slides) Key Points

The role of mixed methods in policy evaluations

Alan Marsh, Deputy Director, Policy Studies Institute (Slides)

Analysis and integration of research based on mixed-methods approach. How is mixed-methods research reported? How is quality judged?

Round table session with short presentations from

Alan Bryman (Slides) Key Points, Mary Dixon-Woods (Slides) Key Points, Karen Henwood

Conclusion