Mixed Methods Research Mini Study

The Module 2 SLP assignment is to write a 3 page paper in which the following items are addressed:
Review the chosen proposed research problem identified in Module 1 and determine the best “methodology” to research the “qualitative” aspects of this issue (i.e., use an ethnographic approach, grounded theory methodology, a case study strategy, or action research?); identify compelling content from the literature that supports the selected methodology.
Provide a rationale and justification for the qualitative research methodology selected.
Describe the sample population and the process used to "select” this group.
Present a logical sequence of ideas to explain the use of methodology (for the qualitative component of the mini-study) and justification for selected sample population.
Merge the following, previous written document with this one.
Mixed Methods Research
Mixed methods is a research approach that has both quantitative and qualitative as the type of data collected and analyzed by the researcher for a single study. The purpose of using a mixed methods approach is to triangulate data from multiple sources and perspectives to increase the validity and reliability of the findings. The combination of the quantitative and qualitative components of mixed methods research provides a comprehensive understanding of the research problem that would not be possible by using either method alone.
The quantitative component of mixed methods research involves the collection and analysis of numerical data. This type of data is typically collected using survey instruments, statistical analysis, or experiments. The purpose of using quantitative methods is to provide a more objective and generalizable understanding of the research problem.
The qualitative component of mixed methods research encompasses gathering and analysis of non-objective data like text, images, or audio recordings. Non-numerical data type is typically collected using methods such as interviews, ethnography, or content analysis. The purpose of using qualitative methods is to provide a more in-depth and context-specific understanding of the research problem.
An article that uses mixed methods approach is Mundt and Briggs's (2016) “HIV-related Stigma and Discrimination in the New Zealand Healthcare Setting: A Mixed-methods Study.” In the article, the researchers were interested in a study to determine the extent to which people living with HIV/AIDs (PLHIV) experienced stigma and discrimination from the healthcare providers in the New Zealand healthcare settings. To this end, the researchers were interested in determining the nature and prevalence of the stigma and discrimination and how PLHIV described the experiences.
The researcher used a mixed methods approach to collect data from the study participants on their experiences within the New Zealand healthcare settings. To this end, Mundt and Briggs (2016) developed a questionnaire allowing them to collect both quantitative and qualitative data to measure the experience of PLHIV in New Zealand healthcare settings. The quantitative components of the questionnaire collected information on the demographics of the study participants. The focus variables in the quantitative variable included sex, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, birthplace, and whether the participant used an interpreter. In addition, the quantitative components of the study measured the experiences of discrimination and stigma by PLHIV using questions that sought to determine whether the quality of care experienced by PLHIV depended on their status and establish the specific healthcare settings where the stigmatization and/or discrimination occurred.
In the qualitative components, Mundt and Briggs (2016) used two open ended-questions that allowed the research respondents to present an elaboration of their discriminatory and stigmatization experiences in healthcare settings. To this end, the qualitative components provided the participants with the opportunity to offer examples of discrimination that they faced in healthcare settings, their emotional reaction to the experience, and their response to the discrimination. The participants were also offered the opportunity to include any general comments that they wanted to provide about the experience.
A potential research problem of interest is the impact of leadership style and effective communication on the turnover rate of nurses in hospitals. I consider the proposed research problem important because high turnover rates among nurses can have negative consequences for both the nurses themselves and the healthcare organizations they work for. High turnover can lead to increased costs, decreased morale, and a lack of continuity of care for patients. The choice of the research problem is informed by research by Duffield et al. (2014) whose findings indicated that New Zealand had one of the highest nurse turnover rates at 44.3 percent, with a turnover cost per nurse of US$ 23,711. Notably, leadership and communication issues form a part of the working environment. Consequently, the proposed research study will determine the extent to which the leadership quality and communication approaches informed turnover intentions among nurses in New Zealand hospitals.
The research question that guides this study is "What is the relationship between leadership style, effective communication, and turnover rate among nurses in hospitals?" In other words, this research aims to understand how different leadership styles and levels of effective communication within hospitals may influence the decision of nurses to leave their jobs. The research question will guide the data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
The proposed research problem can be addressed through mixed methods as the approach will provide a comprehensive understanding of the problem. A quantitative component will involve surveying nurses in hospitals to gather data on their perceptions of their leaders' leadership style, the effectiveness of communication within the hospital, and their turnover intentions. Such data would be collected with the help of a questionnaire with close-ended questions. A qualitative component will involve conducting in-depth interviews with a subset of nurses to gather more detailed and nuanced information about their experiences and perspectives on leadership, communication, and turnover. By using both quantitative and qualitative methods, the researcher will be able to triangulate the data to gain a more complete understanding of the relationship between leadership style, effective communication, and turnover rate among nurses in hospitals.
References
Duffield, C. M., Roche, M. A., Homer, C., Buchan, J., & Dimitrelis, S. (2014). A comparative review of nurse turnover rates and costs across countries. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(12), 2703-2712. https://doi(dot)org/10.1111/jan.12483
Mundt, S., & Briggs, S. (2016). HIV-related stigma and discrimination in the New Zealand healthcare setting: A mixed-methods study. Sexual Health (Online), 13(6), 582. https://doi(dot)org/10.1071/SH16063