A Process Approach to Mixed Methods Data Analysis

Abstract

To provide better guidance for mixed methods research, recent discussions have only recently begun to address the procedures involved in mixed methods data analysis. This article presents a process approach to understanding the steps involved in mixed methods data analysis. I rely on a six-step framework for understanding mixed methods research. This framework involved stating a problem, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data, presenting these data within a research design, analyzing integration within the design, and representing the integration within a joint display. From this joint display the author draws insights or metainferences about integration results. Using this framework, the discussion divides these steps into pre-analysis and mixed methods analysis procedures. Following the discussion about mixed methods analysis, the paper ends with an empirical article from Japan and the use of mixed methods data analysis steps in the article. This discussion contributes to mixed method research by advancing a process model to understand the basic concepts of mixed methods research and the recent, innovative mixed methods analysis steps in the literature: integration, joint displays, and metainferences.