Peters Mitchell, Fàbregues Sergi
Office of Research & Innovation, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
Educ Technol Res Dev. 2023 May 11:1-21. doi: 10.1007/s11423-023-10234-z.
Mixed methods research is becoming more prevalent in educational technology due to its potential for addressing complex educational problems by integrating qualitative and quantitative data and findings. At the same time, a growing chorus of researchers laments the quality and rigor of research in this field. Mixed methods studies which demonstrate explicit integration in educational technology research are scarce, and even fewer apply integration strategies recommended in the literature, such as visual joint displays. Failure to address the challenge of comprehensive integration may result in missed opportunities for deeper insights. To address this methodological problem, the purpose of this paper is to shed light on the procedures, opportunities, and practical challenges associated with mixed methods integration through the use of visual joint displays as an analytical tool for data interpretation and reporting in these types of designs. Using an exploratory sequential mixed methods multiple case study design as an illustrative example, we will (1) provide step-by-step guidance on how to develop a visual joint display to conduct an integrated analysis in a complex mixed methods design; (2) demonstrate how to use a display of this type to integrate meta-inferences previously generated through a series of interconnected joint displays; and (3) illustrate the benefits of integrating at the literature review, theoretical, analysis, interpretation, and reporting levels in mixed methods studies. This methodological article aims to advance knowledge in educational technology research by addressing the integration challenge in mixed methods studies and assisting researchers in this field in achieving comprehensive integration at multiple levels.
混合方法研究在教育技术领域正变得越来越普遍，因为它有潜力通过整合定性和定量数据及研究结果来解决复杂的教育问题。与此同时，越来越多的研究人员对该领域研究的质量和严谨性表示哀叹。在教育技术研究中展示出明确整合的混合方法研究很少见，甚至更少应用文献中推荐的整合策略，如可视化联合展示。未能应对全面整合的挑战可能会导致错失获得更深入见解的机会。为了解决这个方法学问题，本文的目的是通过使用可视化联合展示作为这些类型设计中数据解释和报告的分析工具，来阐明与混合方法整合相关的程序、机会和实际挑战。以探索性序列混合方法多案例研究设计为例，我们将：（1）提供关于如何开发可视化联合展示以在复杂的混合方法设计中进行综合分析的逐步指导；（2）展示如何使用这种类型的展示来整合先前通过一系列相互关联的联合展示生成的元推断；（3）说明在混合方法研究的文献综述、理论、分析、解释和报告层面进行整合的好处。这篇方法学文章旨在通过应对混合方法研究中的整合挑战，并帮助该领域的研究人员在多个层面实现全面整合，来推进教育技术研究的知识。
