TY - JOUR
T1 - Use of theoretical frameworks as a pragmatic guide for mixed methods studies
T2 - A methodological necessity?
AU - Evans, Bronwynne
AU - Coon, David
AU - Ume, Ebere
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health (Grant No. 5R01NR010541-02).
PY - 2011/10
Y1 - 2011/10
N2 - There is a growing acceptance of the utility of mixed methods in health sciences but there is no widely accepted set of ideas with regard to use of a conceptual or theoretical framework to guide inquiry. Few mixed methods health science articles report the use of such a framework. Lack of available conceptual maps provided by theoretical frameworks, necessary intricacy of design, and the qualitative "black box" tradition all contribute to a dearth of methodological guidance in such studies. This article uses a funded National Institutes of Health study as an example to explain the utility of a theoretical framework in conceptualizing a study, making design decisions such as sampling and recruitment, collecting and analyzing data, and data interpretation.
AB - There is a growing acceptance of the utility of mixed methods in health sciences but there is no widely accepted set of ideas with regard to use of a conceptual or theoretical framework to guide inquiry. Few mixed methods health science articles report the use of such a framework. Lack of available conceptual maps provided by theoretical frameworks, necessary intricacy of design, and the qualitative "black box" tradition all contribute to a dearth of methodological guidance in such studies. This article uses a funded National Institutes of Health study as an example to explain the utility of a theoretical framework in conceptualizing a study, making design decisions such as sampling and recruitment, collecting and analyzing data, and data interpretation.
KW - conceptual framework
KW - mixed methods
KW - theoretical framework
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U2 - 10.1177/1558689811412972
DO - 10.1177/1558689811412972
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84855293734
SN - 1558-6898
VL - 5
SP - 276
EP - 292
JO - Journal of Mixed Methods Research
JF - Journal of Mixed Methods Research
IS - 4
ER -