This is a practical, how-to guide to designing mixed methods studies. Combining the latest thinking about mixed methods research designs with practical, step-by-step guidance, the Second Edition of "Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research" now covers six major mixed methods designs. Authors John W. Creswell and Vicki L. Plano Clark walk readers through the entire research process, from formulating questions to designing, collecting data, and interpreting results and include updated examples from published mixed methods studies drawn from the social, behavioral, health, and education disciplines. The following are new to this edition: two new mixed methods designs-transformative and multiphase - are now covered; new flowcharts detail the steps involved in conducting each of the six major mixed methods designs; more detailed coverage of data collection decisions for each of the six major designs; new topic coverage - the use of joint displays - emerging discussion about validity - newest thinking about the use of software in the process of mixed methods analysis; an example of a mixed method dissertation outline is now included in the set of guidelines for reporting mixed methods research in a proposal, dissertation, or journal article; and, new and revised activities and exercises conclude each chapter. This text is intended for use in Intermediate/Advanced Research Methods, Mixed Methods, Research Design, and Social Research Methods courses across the social sciences.

Table of Contents

PREFACE Chapter 1. The Nature of Mixed Methods Research Chapter 2. The Foundations of Mixed Methods Research Chapter 3. Choosing a Mixed Methods Research Design Chapter 4. Examples of Mixed Methods Designs Chapter 5. Introducing a Mixed Methods Study Chapter 6. Collecting Data in Mixed Methods Research Chapter 7. Analyzing and Interpreting Data in Mixed Methods Research Chapter 8. Writing and Evaluating Mixed Methods Research Chapter 9. Summary and Recommendations Appendix A: An Example of the Convergent Parallel Design Appendix B: An Example of the Explanatory Sequential Design Appendix C: An Example of the Exploratory Sequential Design Appendix D: An Example of the Embedded Design Appendix E: An Example of the Transformative Design Appendix F: An Example of the Multiphase Design Appendix G. Glossary References Subject Index Author Index About the Authors List of Tables List of Figures

About the Author

I am a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where I teach courses and write about research design, qualitative methodology, and mixed methods research. I have been at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for 30 years and have authored or co-authored 19 books in original copy and in editions. Most of these books address research methods and methodologies. In addition, I founded the Office of Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus that provided campus support for scholars incorporating qualitative and mixed methods research into projects for extramural funding. I have also held the Clifton Research Endowed Chair at Nebraska. I served as the founding and Co-Editor for the new Sage journal, the Journal of Mixed Methods Research, and I have been an Adjunct Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan and have been a consultant to the Veterans Affairs Health Science Research Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I was selected to be a Senior Fulbright Scholar and visited South Africa in October, 2008, bringing mixed methods concepts to universities and studying documentaries about AIDS victims and families. In February 2012 I will visit Thailand as a Senior Fulbright Scholar on mixed methods. I play the piano, write short stories, and actively engage in sports. Vicki L. Plano Clark, Ph.D., is a research assistant professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and co-director of the Office of Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Her specialization includes mixed methods research designs and qualitative research. She is interested in the procedural issues that arise when implementing different designs and how mixed methods research is applied in different disciplines. She has co-authored numerous methodological discussions as well as empirical studies using qualitative and mixed methods approaches in science education, family research, and family medicine. She has served as managing editor of the Journal of Mixed Methods Research (SAGE). In addition, she served as the Laboratory Manager in the UNL Department of Physics and Astronomy (1993-2005), working with the Research in Physics Education Group, and was a principal investigator on three National Science Foundation projects.

Reviews

"The book explains the excellent approach of mixed methods for social research." -- Gineida Morales-Guasch Ed.D.