Sekametodit

Sekametodit, also known as mixed methods, refer to a research approach that deliberately combines qualitative and quantitative methods within a single study or program of inquiry. The aim is to leverage the strengths of both methodologies to address research questions that cannot be fully answered by one method alone, providing a more comprehensive understanding of a problem.

Philosophically, sekametodit are often associated with pragmatism, which emphasizes the practical consequences of research and the usefulness of methods chosen to answer specific questions. Designs are typically organized to achieve deliberate integration of data at one or more stages of the study. Common designs include convergent parallel designs (collecting qualitative and quantitative data simultaneously and integrating results in interpretation), explanatory sequential designs (quantitative data followed by qualitative data to explain results), and exploratory sequential designs (qualitative data followed by quantitative data to generalize findings). Embedded designs insert one data type within a larger design oriented toward the other type.

Data collection in sekametodit involves both qualitative methods (e.g., interviews, focus groups, observations, content analysis) and quantitative methods (e.g., surveys, experiments, secondary data). Analysis requires strategies for integrating results, which may occur during interpretation, through data transformation (qualitize/quantitize), or through joint displays that combine findings from both strands.

Sekametodit are widely used in education, health sciences, social sciences, and policy research. Their main strengths include a more complete understanding of complex phenomena and the potential for triangulation. Limitations include higher resource demands, greater methodological complexity, and challenges in aligning and integrating disparate data sources.