Assignment Requirement
1. Worth 30% of the total module mark, 800 words Max (no 10% flexibility)
2. The purpose of this assignment: assessessing your knowledge and understanding
of research methodology design particularly focusing sampling strategy, data
collection method and data analysing techniques
3. Read the journal article available on Moodle
4. Answer the question and written in 3rd person in an essay format
5. A full reference list (APA 6th)is needed.
Critically analyse how this study has benefitted from the chosen research methodology
and analytical approach

Key areas you need to cover
1. Shows your basic understanding of a mixed method research setting
2. Identify and evaluate the sampling strategy and techniques (both qualitative and
quantitative)
3. Identify and evaluate the data collection methods (both qualitative and
quantitative)
4. Identify and evaluate the data analysis techniques (both qualitative and
quantitative)
***NO need to discuss the research philosophy in your answer***
What is a mixed method & Why?
1. Mixed methods research is a methodology for conducting research that involves
collecting, analysing and integrating quantitative (e.g. questionnaire surveys) and
qualitative (e.g. interviews, focus group) research.
2. This approach to research is used when this integration provides a better
understanding of the research problem than either of each along
3. Allows a researcher to identify aspects of a phenomenon more accurately by
approaching it from different vantage points using different methods and
techniques.
***This is to help you understand the mixed method setting, in the essay
question, you don’t need to justify “WHY” ***
When to use mix method?
● When one wants to validate or corroborate the results obtained from other
methods.
● When one needs to use one method to inform another method. For instance,
when little is known about a topic and it is necessary to first learn about what
variables to study through qualitative research, and then study those variables
with a large sample of individuals using quantitative research.
● When one wants to continuously look at a research question from different
angles, and clarify unexpected findings and/or potential contradictions.
When to use mix method?
● When one wants to elaborate, clarify, or build on findings from other methods.
For instance, if a causal relationship has being established through experimental
research but one wants to understand and explain the causal processes involved
through qualitative research.
● When one wants to develop a theory about a phenomenon of interest and then
test it. Usually, qualitative research is more suitable to build theory, while
quantitative research provides a better way of testing theories.
● When one wants to generalize findings from qualitative research.
Pros and Cons of Mixed methods
Pros
● Provides strengths that offset the
weaknesses of both quantitative and
qualitative research.
● Provides a more complete and
comprehensive understanding of the
research problem than either quantitative or
qualitative approaches alone.
● Provides an approach for developing better,
more context specific instruments.
● Helps to explain findings or how causal
processes work.
Cons
● The research design can be very complex.
● Takes much more time and resources to
plan and implement this type of research.
● It may be difficult to plan and implement
one method by drawing on the findings of
another.
● It may be unclear how to resolve
discrepancies that arise in the
interpretation of the findings.
Sampling
● What was the research/sample population in this paper?
● Which sampling strategy was adopted in this paper? Probability vs non-probability
sampling?
● Can you comment on the sample size? How will you judge whether this paper has
sufficient data?
● What are the strength of the data sample that was achieved?
Factors determine the sampling strategy

Data Collection
● What were the data collection methods adopted in this study both qualitative and
quantitative? Can you name them and distinguish them?
● How was the data collected and gathered?
● How can this study is benefit from both methods?
Qualitative Quantitative

Data Analysis
● How was the data analysed in this study?
● What qualitative data analysis processes was used? (e.g. content and thematic
analysis)
● What quantitative statistical tools are appropriate adopted? (e.g. descriptive data,
T-test, correlation, regression analysis)