Qualitative Multimethods Data Collection

Date:

06/10/2016

Organised by:

Social Research Association

Presenter:

Dr Janet Salmons

Level:

Intermediate (some prior knowledge)

Contact:

Lindsay Adams - T: 0207 998 0304 E: lindsay.adams@the-sra.org.uk

Map:

View in Google Maps  (EH1 1TH)

Venue:

Radisson Blu Hotel, High Street, Edinburgh (tbc)

Description:

Sometimes one method, and one type of data, is inadequate when studying complex or ongoing problems or projects. Multi-method studies are appropriate when you need more than one data point (e.g. more than one contact with participants, more than one time frame), and/or more than one data type (e.g. visual, verbal, written). In some situations, researchers may have limited opportunities to interact with participants face-to-face; multimethod designs can be used to integrate online and face-to-face approaches and thus reach participants in a large geographic area. This course will focus on integrating different qualitative methods (1-1 or group interviews, observations, participatory action research, questionnaires, arts-based and/or narrative methods), as well as on mixing digital and traditional approaches.

The course is aimed at giving participants conceptual and practical foundations for carrying out studies or evaluations using more than one method. We will examine steps for planning and designing studies, for collecting data with multiple approaches, and for analysing and interpreting results from different kinds of data.

Objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Evaluate options for mixing online and face-to-face methods to collect more than one type of data;
  • Assess ways to use digital and/or face-to-face methods;
  • Synthesize approaches into a coherent research design;
  • Plan and conduct studies that successfully mesh data collection using multiple qualitative methods.
  • Analyze and interpret data from multiple sources.

Topics

The course covers:

  • What kinds of studies would benefit from a mix of qualitative approaches?
  • How can research questions, methods and data types be aligned?
  • What issues are important to consider when designing and planning a study that uses multiple methods? What challenges or limitations should be taken into account?
  • How can different methods be embedded or sequenced in each stage of the study?
  • How can digital and/or face-to-face approaches be used in multimethod studies with participants in local and distant areas?

Who will benefit?

You will find the course useful if:

  • You wish to acquire a practical understanding of ways to use multiple qualitative methods to study complex problems or to evaluate lengthy projects.
  • You have access to “Big Data” on your project or participants but need to understand background, contextual, or motivational factors to gain a full picture.
  • You need to include cost-effective online methods to study participants or projects in a large geographic area.
  • You commission or manage large-scale research projects.

Prior experience with qualitative research methods is beneficial.

Learning outcomes

Participants will gain skills and knowledge about how to use multiple methods to study or evaluate complex problems or project.

Course tutor

Janet Salmons, PhD is a qualitative methodologist with experience in academic research and NGO program evaluation. She is an independent translational scholar, writer and consultant through Vision2Lead (www.vision2lead.com).

Dr. Salmons wrote Doing Qualitative Research Online (2016), Qualitative Online Interviews (2015), and Cases in Online Interview Research (2012), all from SAGE Publications. Recent publications include chapters in the Sage Handbook of Social Media Research Methods (in press), and The Oxford Handbook of Multimethod and Mixed Methods Research Inquiry (2015.)  She supervises doctoral research as a Dissertation Mentor in the Learning Innovations & Educational Technology program at Walden University. She lives and works in Boulder, Colorado.

Cost:

£260 but SRA members get a 25% discount and pay £195

Website and registration:

Region:

Scotland

Keywords:

Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis

Related publications and presentations:

Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis

Back to archive...