The Pathway Building Technique in Implementation Research Using Mixed Methods Design

BACKGROUND

Data integration refers to combining quantitative and qualitative data in mixed methods. It can be achieved through several integration procedures. The building integration procedure can be used for developing quantitative instruments by integrating data from the qualitative phase. There are limited examples of data integration using the building procedure in mixed methods and implementation science.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this article is to illustrate how the pathway building technique can be used to integrate data in mixed methods research through concurrent use of implementation science models and frameworks.

METHODS

This two pathway building technique was developed based on a mixed methods implementation project of developing implementation strategies to promote compassionate nursing care of complex patients.

RESULTS

The first pathway is the integration of qualitative data from the first phase of mixed methods study with implementation models and frameworks to create a quantitative instrument (i.e., a Q-sort survey) for the subsequent phase. The second pathway is the operationalization of the Q-sort survey results (i.e., implementation strategies) using an implementation science specification framework.

CONCLUSION

The pathway technique is valuable for mixed methods research and implementation science as it offers a theory-based innovative method to tackle integration challenge.

A strategy to enhance e-safety among first-year students at Zimbabwean universities: an action research

The widespread use of ICT offers considerable opportunities to society. However, there is ample evidence that students are exposed to various e-Safety challenges and risks through the use of ICT. Most Zimbabwean students who are not adequately prepared for e-Safety are now entering universities and are thus exposed to the risks posed by ICT. Therefore, this action research developed a strategy to enhance e-Safety among first-year students in Zimbabwean universities. The overarching research strategy was action research, which used qualitative research methods to collect information on e-Safety, usage and risks students face, and how these risks can be mitigated. Data was collected using an online questionnaire, interviews, observation and netnography. The results showed that the understanding of e-safety issues is still in its infancy. Therefore, an e-safety strategy was formulated to clearly indicate what to report, to whom and how concerning safety. This strategy was based on the overall reflection of the research, which recommended that education plays a central role in e-safety, as perpetrators or victims may not be aware of the challenges of e-safety. Thus, this research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing a clear strategy for dealing with e-safety challenges in Zimbabwean universities. Furthermore, this research is important in understanding the future of ICT use in developing countries like Zimbabwe.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11423-022-10078-z.

Tripartite Analysis: A Data Analysis Technique for Convergent Mixed Methods Designs

BACKGROUND

Effective data integration is a daunting task in mixed methods research. Several frameworks for data integration exist, but the choice of and the technique for integration depends upon the research question and design. Innovative integration techniques continuously need to be developed to tackle the integration challenge and provide alternative ways for researchers to generate plausible mixed inferences.

OBJECTIVES

To describe a new data analysis technique, tripartite analysis (TriPA), and illustrate its use in a convergent mixed methods study.

METHODS

This technique was developed based on a convergent mixed methods study underpinned by dialectical pluralism aimed to understand Pakistani nursing students' perspectives about compassion and compassionate care and how these perspectives are consistent with the conceptualizations of compassion in nursing literature.

RESULTS

TriPA entails analysis and integration using joint displays at three levels: case-by-case integrated analysis, separate and then merged quantitative and qualitative analysis, and comparative and integrated analysis of Levels I and II findings.

DISCUSSION

TriPA can enable researchers to develop a more nuanced understanding of a given phenomenon through integration at various levels by identifying linkages within cases and across the whole data set and recognizing relational connections and emerging patterns.

Does culture or self-directed learning drive online performance?

Purpose

The foundations of internally driven discipline are similar to self-directed learning (SDL). This study examines the effect of cultural orientation and SDL on the online performance of college students. It investigates how college students pursue SDL while maintaining a collectivist cultural orientation in their learning experience. It explains why students prefer SDL to learning constrained by an externally enforced discipline.

Design/methodology/approach

The explanatory sequential mixed-method design uses a quantitative method, followed by qualitative enquiry. The research was conducted in an undergraduate non-credit online course in China.

Findings

The findings show that cultural orientation has no impact on students' online performance, while SDL abilities are positively related to it. When fully mediated by SDL, a horizontal-collectivist culture has a positive effect on students' online performance.

Research limitations/implications

Data were collected in a non-credit online college course, where the final assessment used a peer-rating approach and team members shared the same final score. This scoring method may not fully reflect each student's online performance.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that, when considering cultural influence on student performance, researchers should consider learning contexts, including educational level and learning mode. This study validates that colleges should focus on ability and skill development that enhance internal motivation to improve students' online performance, rather than focussing on their beliefs.

Originality/value

This paper introduces evidence to support the impact of culture on college students' online performance, showing that SDL abilities can drive performance.

A Primer on Mixed Methods for Pediatric Researchers

OBJECTIVE

To provide a primer on conducting and analyzing mixed methods research studies, and to provide guidance on the write-up of mixed methods research.

METHODS

A question and answer format is used to provide an overview of mixed methods research study designs, tasks and considerations related to conducting and analyzing mixed methods studies, and recommendations for the write-up of results for mixed methods studies.

RESULTS

Individuals who conduct mixed methods research are encouraged to delineate the quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods features of the research and how these features fit with the overall study questions. Research teams will benefit from including individuals with expertise in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research. Data integration should be a central component to the analysis and write-up of mixed methods research.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing the use of mixed methods research in the field of pediatric psychology will contribute to advances in observational studies with children and families, intervention development and evaluation, and creation of new tools and assessments that aim to optimize child and family health outcomes.

Professional staff in universities: Career needs, values, attitudes and behaviours

This article outlines a concurrent complementarity, mixed methods research design to explore the careers of university professional staff through the application of a contemporary career profile framework. Two hundred and twenty-six participants from Australia and the UK completed a multi-method questionnaire. Integration occurred at three points: the conceptualisation stage using a multi-method instrument; the experiential stage where the quantitative data results acted as a priori themes for the theoretical thematic analysis; and the inferential stage where both convergent and divergent triangulation of the results took place to provide a broader and deeper understanding of the phenomenon under study. This methodological design aims to demonstrate the usefulness of mixed methods in carrying out careers research. The findings extend the career profile theory by highlighting individual needs, related behaviours and outcomes and by suggesting that there are various psychological mechanisms acting to drive career behaviours.