The Use of Mixed Methods Design in the IoT in Smart Cities Research

Mixed-Method Studies
A mixed-methods study design presents the benefits of both the qualitative and the quantitative research approaches. This study utilized the mixed methods approach because it sought to understand the people’s experiences of smart technology and learn about the difference that its adoption brings to society. The qualitative aspect of the study entailed conducting interviews with the respondents to obtain their perceptions of smart technologies. The interviews conducted helped in developing themes that guided the discussion. The responses were coded and then classified into themes. The themes that resulted from the coding process included work simplification, engagement of local data, transparency, implementation challenges, and privacy concerns. These themes helped the researcher draw inferences on why some respondents were hesitant to adopt the technologies.
The coding process helped link data to theory. This linkage is important as it allows the researchers to connect with similar researchers and draw appropriate conclusions. It also gave the researchers the opportunity to clarify some of the issues that affect the installation of smart technologies. Relying only on the quantitative approach would not have revealed certain concerns, making the overall findings less generalizable. The thematic analysis in the qualitative phase of the study also provided excellent flexibility for the researchers to determine the factors to include in their analysis and those that would be insignificant towards implementing the technologies. In addition, the knowledge about the respondent’s concerns allowed the researchers to address the issues and gain their confidence.
The quantitative phase allowed the researchers to expand their knowledge of the...