Ishan BhatnagarAIR 5 · CSE 2025 · 363 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening
Mixed-method designs speak to methodological pluralism by allowing for various methods to reinforce one another and fill their gaps, as follows (Ray Pawson):
Body · points
→ Triangulation of qualitative and quantitative methods allows for data backed by subjective meanings.
→ Improving reliability: Through quantitative methods that provide empirical evidence that can be tested in various contexts.
e.g. → Milgram's experiment on obedience to authority produced near-identical results across various contexts, showing obedience as a consistent human response.
- → Improving validity: Through qualitative methods that seek to understand the subjective meanings
and motives, such as Verstehn, that requires the researcher to place themselves in shoes of research subject. (Weber)
e.g. Ann Oakley's feminist interview method involves collaboration and warmth to yield deeper insights.
4.> Role of triangulation: Ray Pawson points out that triangulation can be done as follows-
(i) use of qualitative methods to formulate hypothesis.
(ii) use quantitative methods to verify or negate the hypothesis.
(iii) use of qualitative methods to check results of quantitative methods.
5.> Increasing scientific rigour: Science requires the replicability of findings (reliability) which derives from positivist methods like multi-variate analysis, as used by Durkheim in his
study of suicide.
6.> Addressing human consciousness: [Giddens] argues that validity of sociological research is higher than scientific research since mixed methods allow sociologists to-
(i) confirm their findings by discussing them with their subjects.
(ii) understand the subjective state and experience.
Neither of these is possible in scientific research.
7.> More immersive insights: In 'Street Corner Society' Whyte combined participant observation with in-depth interviews in order to ascertain gang sub-cultures and their social frame of meanings and reference.
Limitations of mixed methods -
Close · a summary
1> Incompatible approaches: Phenomenology contests the veracity of data (Atkinson & Cicourel) and hence may be incompatible with quantitative methods like surveys.
2> Mounting costs and time requirements: mobilizing manpower, training them etc.
3> Inherent limitations like changing behaviour on observation (Hawthorne effect) or tweaking questionnaire answers because of social desirability bias may not be fully overcome.
4> Researcher's subjective bias and inability for fact-value distinction may continue to influence analysis of findings.
Nonetheless, [Giddens] argues that mixed-methods ensure greater reliability, validity and scientific orientation for sociology.