Mixed-methods research

Location

room B349 (Suvanto), Jyväskylä University Library, Seminaarinkatu 15 (B, Lähde), Jyväskylä.

Registration

Registration is open until May 3. Max. 35 participants. First priority is given to students who complete the course to gain credits.

Speaker

Eminent Scholar and Verizon Chair of Business Information Technology, Director, Executive PhD Viswanath Venkatesh, Pamplin College of Business, Virginia Tech.

Overview

Mixed-methods research is an approach that combines quantitative and qualitative research methods in the same research inquiry to gain insights. Every method has its strengths and weaknesses. Mixed-methods research can leverage the strengths of one method while minimizing the impact of its weaknesses through the use of another method. The course coverage includes various facets of mixing qualitative and quantitative methods and results. The aim of this course is NOT to teach qualitative or quantitative methods, but rather focus on mixing. Therefore, it is important for participants to have a strong background in one type of method (qualitative or quantitative) and at least familiarity in the other type of method.

Objectives

The objectives are:

a) To understand the value of mixed-methods research.

b) To understand various purposes of mixed-methods research.

c) To learn to design mixed-method research studies.

d) To understand analyses in the context of mixed-methods research, with a view toward developing meta-inferences.

e) To evaluate the quality of mixed-methods research and especially meta-inferences.

f) To learn to write empirical papers that use a mixed-methods research approach.

Structure and conduct

The format will be a combination of lecture and classroom discussion. Students are expected to come prepared to discuss all required readings, although being a methods course, it is understandable if you are not able to grasp all the details/nuances in the readings. Students may be called upon to summarize articles, synthesize themes across articles, relate ideas across articles, discuss the nature and quality of the application of the ideas related to mixed-methods research to specific illustrations, discuss challenges and problems in applying methods to research contexts including those discussed in exemplars.

In addition to building the conceptual foundations, students will engage in the development of a mixed-methods research study in a topic of their choice. Seeking the guidance of your faculty mentor(s) to choose a topic for which you can design a study is strongly encouraged. Depending on the size of the group, this may be a group exercise and poster session, with the focus of the group being the project of a fairly senior student. For those seeking credit, engagement in the workshop, completing the readings (as evidenced by active participation), and engagement in the study design exercise and associate poster session are necessary.

Materials

Pre-course readings (these are repeated later and will be discussed briefly during the sessions—but it is important for participants to read these materials beforehand)

Foundational material

Venkatesh, V., Brown, S. A., and Bala, H. 2013. “Bridging the Qualitative–Quantitative Divide: Guidelines for Conducting Mixed Methods Research in Information Systems,” MIS Quarterly (37:1), pp. 21–54. (https://doi.org/10.25300/MISQ/2013/37.1.02).

Venkatesh, V., Brown, S. A., and Sullivan, Y. W. 2016. “Guidelines for Conducting Mixed-Methods Research: An Extension and Illustration,” Journal of the Association for Information Systems (17:7), pp. 435–495. (https://doi.org/10.17705/1jais.00433).

Illustrations

Venkatesh, V., Bala, H., and Sykes, T. A. 2010. “Impacts of Information and Communication Technology Implementations on Employees’ Jobs in Service Organizations in India: A Multi-Method Longitudinal Field Study,” Production and Operations Management (19:5), pp. 591–613. (https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1937-5956.2010.01148.x).

Zhang, X., and Venkatesh, V. 2017. “A Nomological Network of Knowledge Management System Use: Antecedents and Consequences,” MIS Quarterly (41:4), pp. 1275–1306. (https://doi.org/10.25300/misq/2017/41.4.12).

Venkatesh, V., Davis, F. D., Cheung, C. M. K., and Lee, Z. W. Y. “Cyberslacking in the Workplace: Antecedents and Effects on Job Performance,” MIS Quarterly, forthcoming.

Raman, R., Venkatesh, V., Richardson, V., and Aljafari, R. “Mixed Methods Research in the Age of Analytics: An Exemplar Leveraging Sentiments from News Articles to Explain Firm Performance,” International Journal of Information Management, forthcoming.

Book (to be discussed during the course) [In the schedule, readings referring to BOOK is this book]

Venkatesh, V., Brown, S.A., and Sullivan, Y.W. Conducting Mixed-Methods Research: From Classical Social Sciences to the Age of Big Data and Analytics. In preparation for publication as an open access book through VT Publishing and all readings by the instructor will be made available for free.

Articles (to be discussed during the course)

Two primary types of articles will be assigned: (1) articles, including book chapters, that explain fundamental ideas related to the concepts; and (2) illustrations.

Recommended readings

Additional books, book chapters, and articles are included and may be suggested.

Schedule

Please note that the sessions will not be of equal duration, as some topics are more complex and student interests vary. The schedule shown below is meant to serve as a general guide. Further, the professor reserves the right to adjust the topics depending on student learning and discussions. The initial plan is such that day 1 comprises sessions 1 through 3, day 2 comprises session 4 through 6, and day 3 comprises sessions 7 through 10. Each workshop day starts at 9.00 am and ends 5.00 pm and there is a lunch break between 12 noon and 1 pm.

Session 1

Topic:

Introduction, discussion of research interests

Overview of mixed methods

Readings:

BOOK, chapter 1

Illustrations

Venkatesh, V., Davis, F. D., Cheung, C. M. K., and Lee, Z. W. Y. “Cyberslacking in the Workplace: Antecedents and Effects on Job Performance,” MIS Quarterly, forthcoming.

Session 2

Topic:

Paradigmatic issues in mixed-methods research

Readings:

BOOK, chapter 2

Illustrations of chapter 1

Stewart, G. L., Astrove, S. L., Reeves, C. J., Crawford, E. R., and Solimeo, S. L. 2017. “Those with the Most Find It Hardest to Share: Exploring Leader Resistance to the Implementation of Team-Based Empowerment,” Academy of Management Journal (60:6), pp. 2266–2293. (https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2015.1173).

Vergne, J. P. 2012. “Stigmatized Categories and Public Disapproval of Organizations: A Mixed-Methods Study of the Global Arms Industry, 1996-2007,” Academy of Management Journal (55:5), pp. 1027–1052. (https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2010.0599).

Illustrations of chapter 2

Walsh, I. 2014. “A Strategic Path to Study IT Use through Users’ IT Culture and IT Needs: A Mixed-Method Grounded Theory,” Journal of Strategic Information Systems (23:2), pp. 146–173. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsis.2013.06.001).

Smirthwaite, G., and Swahnberg, K. 2016. “Comparing Critical Realism and the Situated Knowledges Approach in Research on (in)Equity in Health Care: An Exploration of Their Implications,” Journal of Critical Realism (15:5), pp. 476–493. (https://doi.org/10.1080/14767430.2016.1210427).

Hodgkin, S. 2008. “Telling It All: A Story of Women’s Social Capital Using a Mixed Methods Approach,” Journal of Mixed Methods Research (2:4), pp. 296–316. (https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689808321641).

Session 3

Topic:

Nature of theory in mixed-methods research

Readings:

BOOK, chapter 3

Illustrations

Sarker, S., Ahuja, M., and Sarker, S. 2018. “Work-Life Conflict of Globally Distributed Software Development Personnel: An Empirical Investigation Using Border Theory,” Information Systems Research (29:1), pp. 103–126. (https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2017.0734).

Some background reading on theory is recommended

Whetten, D. A. 1989. “What Constitutes a Theoretical Contribution?,” Academy of Management Review (14:4), pp. 490–495. (https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1989.4308371).

Bacharach, S. B. 1989. “Organizational Theories: Some Criteria for Evaluation,” Academy of Management Review (14:4), pp. 496–515. (https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1989.4308374).

Weick, K. E. 1989. “Theory Construction as Disciplined Imagination,” Academy of Management Review (14:4), pp. 516–531. (https://doi.org/10.2307/258556).

Weick, K. E. 1995. “What Theory Is Not, Theorizing Is,” Administrative Science Quarterly (40:3), pp. 385–390. (https://doi.org/10.2307/2393789).

Gregor, S. 2006. “The Nature of Theory in Information Systems,” MIS Quarterly (30:3), pp. 611–642. (https://doi.org/10.2307/25148742).

Session 4

Topic:

Appropriateness of using a mixed-methods research approach

Readings:

BOOK, chapter 4

Session 5

Topic:

Basic strategies for mixed-methods research

Readings:

BOOK, chapter 5

Session 6

Topic:

Mixed-methods data collection and data analysis strategies

Readings:

BOOK, chapters 6, 7, and 8

Sessions 7 & 8

Topic:

Group work on mixed-methods study design & poster discussion

Readings:

None

Session 9

Topic:

Writing a paper

Readings:

BOOK, chapter 11

Session 10

Topic:

Meta-inferences and closing thoughts

Peer reviewing

Readings:

BOOK, chapter 10

Recommended:

BOOK, chapters 9, 12, 13.

Lee, A. S. 1995. “Reviewing a Manuscript for Publication,” Journal of Operations Management (13:1), pp. 87–92. (https://doi.org/10.1016/0272-6963(95)94762-W).

Saunders, C. 2005. “Looking for Diamond Cutters,” MIS Quarterly (29:1), iii–viii. (https://doi.org/10.5555/2017245.2017246).

Rai, A. 2019. “Developing Virtuous Reviewers,” MIS Quarterly (43:4), iii–viii.

Rai, A. 2016. “Writing a Virtuous Review,” MIS Quarterly (40:3), iii–x. (https://doi.org/10.5555/3177634.3177635).

Kohli, R., and Straub, D. 2011. “How Reviews Shape MIS Quarterly: A Primer for Reviewers and Editors,” MIS Quarterly (35:3). (https://doi.org/10.2307/23042794).

Straub, D. 2009. “Diamond Mining or Coal Mining? Which Reviewing Industry Are We In?” MIS Quarterly (33:2), iii–viii. (https://doi.org/10.2307/20650289).

Straub, D. 2008. “Type II Reviewing Errors and the Search for Exciting Papers,” MIS Quarterly (32:2), v–x. (https://doi.org/10.2307/25148837).

Zmud, R. W. 1998. “A Personal Perspective on the State of Journal Refereeing,” MIS Quarterly (22:3), xlv–xlviii.

Credit points

Doctoral students participating in the seminar can obtain 3 credit points. This requires participating and completing the assignments.

Registration fee

This seminar is free-of-charge for Inforte.fi member organization's staff and their PhD students. For others the participation fee is 400 €. The participation fee includes access to the event and the event materials. Lunch and dinner are not included.