Mixing Methods and Sciences: A Longitudinal Cross-Disciplinary Mixed Methods Study on Technology to Address Social Isolation and Loneliness in Later Life

2020 ◽  
pp. 155868982097764
Author(s):  
Barbara Barbosa Neves ◽  
Ron Baecker
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Long Term Studies

Despite a growing interest in longitudinal mixed methods research, the literature offers few examples of complex designs. To evaluate a communication-based technology to address social isolation and loneliness in later life, we conducted two long-term studies in aged-care homes. We used a longitudinal convergent mixed methods design and a cross-disciplinary approach that employed techniques from social and computer sciences to ensure a comprehensive evaluation. While cross-disciplinary mixed methods research is also growing, a discussion of its methodological practices, challenges, and strategies is still scarce. This article contributes to mixed methods research by providing lessons learned on how cross-disciplinary mixed studies can be designed and integrated from collection to interpretation, particularly when combining convergent and longitudinal approaches. We also show the value of “design-in-action”—that is, the refinement and adjustment of techniques throughout research, as methods “talk to each other.”

Spiritual Factors in the Experience of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias

2015 ◽  
pp. 230-253
Author(s):  
Elizabeth MacKinlay ◽  
Corinne Trevitt
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Meaningful Life ◽  
Diagnosis Of Dementia ◽  
The Face

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias raise important questions of personhood and connection for those affected. Finding meaning in the face of dementia is one of the most challenging aspects of dementia; spiritual reminiscence is a way of connecting with those with dementia when their cognitive decline seems to preclude them from participating in a meaningful life. In this chapter a context for spirituality in later life is given through description of the spiritual tasks and process of ageing. This leads to presentation of work based on a mixed methods study of 113 people in residential aged care with a diagnosis of dementia who participated in either six or 24 weeks of weekly sessions of guided spiritual reminiscence (MacKinlay & Trevitt, 2012). Relationship was found to be almost synonymous with meaning for these people. Other important themes identified were vulnerability and transcendence, wisdom, hope, despair, and response to meaning.

Mixed Methods Research Online

2015 ◽  
pp. 411-432
Author(s):  
Theodora Issa ◽  
David Pick
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Business Ethics ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Practical Relevance ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Sensitive Issues

Contributing to the ongoing debate in research on sensitive issues such as business ethics, this chapter provides a discussion of mixed methods research design, examining the processes and challenges of developing and deploying an online survey tool using technology within an interpretive mixed methods design. This chapter provides pointers on how to deploy this approach through technology to research business ethics using the example of researching ethical mindsets and its components, including spirituality and aesthetics. It is found that mixed methods research is an effective approach because it allows often sensitive issues (i.e. business ethics, aesthetics, spirituality) relating to questioning individuals' inner values and ethical propensities, which are usually subtle and difficult to measure and analyze constructs. While this tool was developed in the Australian context, it has the potential to form a foundation for wider examination and research in business ethics. The chapter contributes to the collective discussion of research methods using a framework that has both practical relevance and theoretical rigor.

Spiritual Factors in the Experience of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias

2020 ◽  
pp. 334-357
Author(s):  
Elizabeth MacKinlay ◽  
Corinne Trevitt
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Cognitive Decline ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Meaningful Life ◽  
Diagnosis Of Dementia ◽  
The Face

Alzheimer's disease and other dementias raise important questions of personhood and connection for those affected. Finding meaning in the face of dementia is one of the most challenging aspects of dementia; spiritual reminiscence is a way of connecting with those with dementia when their cognitive decline seems to preclude them from participating in a meaningful life. In this chapter a context for spirituality in later life is given through description of the spiritual tasks and process of ageing. This leads to presentation of work based on a mixed methods study of 113 people in residential aged care with a diagnosis of dementia who participated in either six or 24 weeks of weekly sessions of guided spiritual reminiscence (MacKinlay & Trevitt, 2012). Relationship was found to be almost synonymous with meaning for these people. Other important themes identified were vulnerability and transcendence, wisdom, hope, despair, and response to meaning.

Mixed Methods Research Online

2015 ◽  
pp. 19-40
Author(s):  
Theodora Issa ◽  
David Pick
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Business Ethics ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Practical Relevance ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Sensitive Issues

Contributing to the ongoing debate in research on sensitive issues such as business ethics, this chapter provides a discussion of mixed methods research design, examining the processes and challenges of developing and deploying an online survey tool using technology within an interpretive mixed methods design. This chapter provides pointers on how to deploy this approach through technology to research business ethics using the example of researching ethical mindsets and its components, including spirituality and aesthetics. It is found that mixed methods research is an effective approach because it allows often sensitive issues (i.e. business ethics, aesthetics, spirituality) relating to questioning individuals' inner values and ethical propensities, which are usually subtle and difficult to measure and analyze constructs. While this tool was developed in the Australian context, it has the potential to form a foundation for wider examination and research in business ethics. The chapter contributes to the collective discussion of research methods using a framework that has both practical relevance and theoretical rigor.

Coping among adolescents with long-term health conditions: a mixed-methods study

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (13) ◽  
pp. 762-769
Author(s):  
Nabeel Al-Yateem ◽  
Muhammad Arsyad Subu ◽  
Arwa Al-Shujairi ◽  
Intima Alrimawi ◽  
Hend Mohd Ali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Coping Strategies ◽  
School Health ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Health Conditions ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Care Environment ◽  
Psychological Comorbidities ◽  
Negative Coping

Background: Adolescents with long-term health conditions may be at risk of developing psychological comorbidities and adopting ineffective coping mechanisms if they are not adequately supported at home or school. Aim: To understand the strategies adolescents use when dealing with challenging health situations, and gain an in-depth understanding of the characteristics of their preferred care environment if they have unexpected health crises. Design: The study used a concurrent mixed-methods design, with data gathered between January and May 2019. Descriptive and non-parametric tests were used to analyse quantitative and qualitative data. Results: ‘Problem-focused disengagement’ was the most-often used coping strategy. The second and third most common strategies were ‘problem-focused engagement’ and ‘emotion-focused engagement’. Finally, girls tended to adopt more negative coping strategies than boys. The analysis revealed that most adolescents preferred home over school as the care environment because these caring agents were close and available, knew how to care for them and had the resources to provide or access care, and listened and understood them. Conclusion: Adolescents adopted disengagement and negative coping strategies early in their attempts to cope with stressful events before adopting more positive strategies. This is alarming, especially as school health services are not sufficiently supportive of adolescents at times of stress and illness. Adolescents often perceive school providers as unavailable and lacking knowledge about their health needs.

scholarly journals Mixed-Methods Design in Biology Education Research: Approach and Uses

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. rm5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdi-Rizak M. Warfa
Keyword(s):  
Education Research ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Educational Research ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Biology Education ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Methodological Issues ◽  
Practical Guidelines ◽  
Single Method

Educational research often requires mixing different research methodologies to strengthen findings, better contextualize or explain results, or minimize the weaknesses of a single method. This article provides practical guidelines on how to conduct such research in biology education, with a focus on mixed-methods research (MMR) that uses both quantitative and qualitative inquiries. Specifically, the paper provides an overview of mixed-methods design typologies most relevant in biology education research. It also discusses common methodological issues that may arise in mixed-methods studies and ways to address them. The paper concludes with recommendations on how to report and write about MMR.

scholarly journals Design features of health information visualization for the purpose of efficacy perception about weight control among young adults: A mixed methods study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Huang
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Visualization ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Design Features ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Perception Of Self

This study intends to find out the design features of health information visualization that can positively influence young adults’ perception of self-efficacy about weight control. An exploratory mixed methods design has been used by firstly collecting qualitative data in order to develop an information visualization intervention, which then followed with a quantitative phase to assess the design features. Three design features were generated - (1). Visualizing the comparison of intake and consumed calories; (2). Showing both the short-term and long-term predictions of weight; (3). Showing an ideal path of weight control.

scholarly journals Reasons for knitting blogging and its importance for crafting

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 48-62
Author(s):  
Katja Vilhunen ◽  
Sinikka Hannele Pöllänen ◽  
Harri Pitkäniemi
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Leisure Activity ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Mixed Methods Design ◽  
Quantitative Research Methods

The purpose of this study was to describe the reasons for knitting blogging and the importance of blogging for the bloggers’ crafting. A multiphase mixed-methods study focusing on quantitative research methods was the methodological basis. Therefore, the study included both sequential and simultaneous investigation paths. In this study, the quantitative data were collected from the same group of Finnish knitting bloggers by two online surveys in 2008 (N= 501) and in 2013 (N= 212). The quantitative data focused on time-related changes in blogging, whereas the qualitative data, collected by essays (N=50) during 2013-2014, was used to explain the quantitative data. In quantitative analysis, the key features of reasons for knitting blogging were analysed by principal component analysis. The differences in the principal components for the background groups between the surveys were elucidated by means of 2-way analysis of variance. The qualitative data were analysed by data-driven content analysis. The results indicated that there were several reasons for knitting blogging. According to the results, the elements of knitting blogging were: 1) inspiration and materialization, 2) connecting and community support, 3) encouragement and 4) reflection and reminiscence. Knitting blogging has reshaped crafting by combining the material and tactile process of knitting with digital practices of life-streaming and with participatory activities in networked spaces. It appeared that knitting and blogging complemented each other, and that blogging supported development of the blogger’s crafting into a serious leisure activity with meaningful long-term activities and clear goals. Keywords: digital practices, knitting blog, leisure, mixed methods design, online communities

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