Sequential Exploratory Mixed Methods and Research Tool Development in Physics Education

• In Event: 63.072 - Conceptualizing and Utilizing Mixed-Methods Research

Abstract

This paper reviews nine empirical articles in physics education for their use of sequential exploratory mixed method design. Each study was analyzed for its design typology, study rationale, qualitative research, quantitative research, integration techniques, and inferences drawn. Based on this review, physics education uses sequential exploratory mixed methods to develop research tools. The depth of development varied from article to article. The qualitative techniques used were not explained with the same depth as the quantitative techniques. Also, these studies did not classify themselves as using mixed methods. These lead the author to conclude that physics education can strengthen its research methodology by both explaining its methods in more detail while looking to mixed methods for better descriptions of these methods.

Author

• Jonathan Engelman, Kettering College