Research Methods Essay -- Mixed Research, Qualitative Method

Defining and Analyzing Mixed Method Johnson and Christensen (2007) describe mixed research as the third and newest research methodology paradigm. Philosophically, mixed research takes an eclectic, pragmatic, and commonsense approach, suggesting that the researcher mix quantitative and qualitative in a way that works best for the given research question that is studied in a particular context. Mixed research uses both deductive and inductive methods, obtains both quantitative and qualitative data, attempts to corroborate and complement findings and takes a balanced approach to research. Researchers used the term mixed method to refer to all procedures collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data in the context of a single study. According to Johnson and Onwuegbuzie (2004), some researchers have taken issue with the term mixed methods to describe research designs that consciously blend both approaches within or across the stages of the research process. Researchers seeking associations between primarily quantitative biophysical and primarily qualitative socio cultural data, including environmental and natural resource anthropologists can look to mixed method research designs for structured and tested integrative processes. Such designs have been used to augment traditional methods for assessing and monitoring the impacts of recreation and tourism on the physical environment (Mackay, 2004). Defining and Analyzing Qualitative Method On the other hand, Shank (2002) defines qualitative research as a form of systematic empirical inquiry into meaning. By systematic he means, planned, ordered, and public, following rules, agreed upon by members of the qualitative research community. By empirical, he means that thi... ...ompanying attributes of servant leader. Data Collection The self-assessment servant leadership instrument (SASL) will be converted from a master copy into SPSS 19 software a commercial server from which data will be analyzed. The researcher will use a conceptual framework for measuring servant leadership. Letters requesting permissions to conduct research will be sent to each Dean and Assistant Dean at each campus, as well as the Dean of Students. The letter will specify the research and emphasize that all participation will be selected voluntarily. Also, the individual responses will be anonymous and confidential. Concurrent mixed method data collection strategies will be employed to validate one form of data with the other to transform the data for comparison, or to address different types of questions (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2007).