Mixed Methods–Grounded Theory: Strategies for Best Practices for Educational Research

• In Event: Refining Mixed Methods Research

Abstract

Despite the increased popularity of mixed methods and grounded theory research, the integration of both methods within one study is still evolving. As such, there have been few attempts to determine how researchers are using mixed methods-grounded theory (MM-GT). Our goal was to systematically examine how education researchers are using MM-GT, as compared to researchers representing other fields. We identified 61 MM-GT articles and divided them into two groups: those from the field of education (n=27) and those from other fields (n=34). We found that the majority of published MM-GT studies provided little methodological detail regarding grounded theory, mixed methods, and their integration; and that there were some interesting differences in how researchers across the two samples are using MM-GT.

Authors

• Jared Stevens, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

• Michelle Howell, University of Nebraska - Medical Center

• Timothy Guetterman, University of Michigan

• Wayne Babchuk, University of Nebraska - Lincoln