Mixed Methods Social Research

This course is designed to give students an overview of the use of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods for social research. Quantitative methods focus on objective measurements and the statistical, mathematical, or numerical analysis of data collected through polls, questionnaires, and surveys, or from existing administrative sources. Qualitative methods, on the other hand, rely on more in depth analysis, and focus on direct observation and/or the analysis of words, images or other text. While many research questions can be answered by using either quantitative or qualitative research methods, most research questions seeking to understand complex social phenomena are best approached by using a mixed methods design. This course summarises the key aspects of quantitative and qualitative mixed methods, and uses a number of example research projects to discuss how they can be combined to answer key social research questions. Upon completion, students will be able to design, evaluate and analyse data using mixed methods approaches to social research. No prior knowledge in either quantitative or qualitative research methods is assumed.