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Mixing Methods in Psychology

The Integration of Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Theory and Practice

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Question about this product?

Can qualitative and quantitative methods be combined effectively in psychology? What are the practical and theoretical issues involved? Should different criteria be used to judge qualitative and quantitative research?

The acceptance of qualitative research methods in psychology has lead to a split between qualitative and quantitative methods and has raised questions about how best to assess the validity of research practice. While the two approaches have traditionally been seen as competing paradigms, more recently, researchers have begun to argue that the divide is artificial.

Mixing Methods in Psychology looks in detail at the problems involved in attempting to reconcile qualitative and quantitative methods both within and across subjects. All angles of the debate are discussed, covering areas as

diverse as health, education, social, clinical and economic psychology. The contributors, who are some of the leading figures in the field, present theoretical and methodological guidance as well as practical examples of how quantitative and qualitative methods can be fruitfully combined. By aiming to bridge the gap between the two methods, this book reveals how each can inform the other to produce more accurate theories and models of human behaviour.

This groundbreaking text will be essential reading for students and researchers wishing to combine methods, or for anyone who simply wants to get a better understanding of the debate.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Theoretical and Historiographical Foundations. Z. Todd, B. Nerlich, S. McKeown, Introduction. B. Nerlich, Coming Full (Hermeneutic) Circle: The Controversy about Psychological Methods. K. Henwood, Reinventing Validity: Reflections on Principles and Practices from Beyond the Quality-Quantity Debate. Part 2: Mixing It Up. R. Harre, D. Crystal, Discursive Analysis and the Interpretation of Statistics. D.D. Clarke, 'Structured Judgement Methods' -The Best of Both Worlds? P. Stenner, R. Stainton Rogers, Q Methodology and Qualiquantology: The Example of Discriminating between Emotions. Part 3: Examples of Mixed Method Research. S. Chilton, J. Covey, L. Hopkins, M. Jones-Lee, G. Loomes, N. Pidgeon, A. Robinson, A. Spencer, Valuing the 'Value' of Life: A Case of Constructed Preference? K. Vann, M. Cole, Method and Methodology in Interpretive Studies of Cognitive Life. Z. Todd, M. Lobeck, Integrating Survey and Focus Group Research: A Case-Study of Attitudes of English and German Language Learners. Part 4: Mixed Methods Within the Discipline. A. Miller, Educational Psychology or Difficult Pupil Behaviour: Qualitative, Quantitative or Mixed Methods? P. Nicholson, Taking Quality Seriously: The Case for Qualitative Feminist Psychology in the Context of Quantitative Clinical Research on Postnatal Depression. Z. Todd, B. Nerlich, Future Directions.