Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Using Mixed Methods Effectively in Prevention Science: Designs, Procedures, and Examples

  • Published:
Prevention Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

There is growing interest in using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to generate evidence about the effectiveness of health prevention, services, and intervention programs. With the emerging importance of mixed methods research across the social and health sciences, there has been an increased recognition of the value of using mixed methods for addressing research questions in different disciplines. We illustrate the mixed methods approach in prevention research, showing design procedures used in several published research articles. In this paper, we focused on two commonly used mixed methods designs: concurrent and sequential mixed methods designs. We discuss the types of mixed methods designs, the reasons for, and advantages of using a particular type of design, and the procedures of qualitative and quantitative data collection and integration. The studies reviewed in this paper show that the essence of qualitative research is to explore complex dynamic phenomena in prevention science, and the advantage of using mixed methods is that quantitative data can yield generalizable results and qualitative data can provide extensive insights. However, the emphasis of methodological rigor in a mixed methods application also requires considerable expertise in both qualitative and quantitative methods. Besides the necessary skills and effective interdisciplinary collaboration, this combined approach also requires an open-mindedness and reflection from the involved researchers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andrew, S., & Halcomb, E. J. (Eds.). (2009). Mixed methods research for nursing and the health sciences. London: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw, T., Lovell, K., Bee, P., & Campbell, M. (2010). The development and evaluation of a complex health education intervention for adults with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 17, 473–486.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bryman, A. (2006). Integrating quantitative and qualitative research: How is it done? Qualitative Research, 6, 97–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012a). Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey data, 1997–2010. Available at: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/brfss. Accessed 20 Aug 2012.

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012b). MMWR weekly: Cancer screening—United States, 2010. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6103a1.htm?s_cid=mm6103a1_w.

  • Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2007). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Creswell, J. W., & Zhang, W. (2009). The application of mixed methods designs to trauma research. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 22, 612–621.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DeVoe, J. E., Graham, A. S., Angier, H., Baez, A., & Krois, L. (2008). Obtaining health care services for low-income children: A hierarchy of needs. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 19, 1192–1121.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Douglas, F. C., Gray, D. A., & van Teijlingen, E. R. (2010). Using a realist approach to evaluate smoking cessation interventions targeting pregnant women and young people. BMC Health Services Research. doi:10.1186/1472-6963-10-49.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ekwueme, D. U., Gardner, J. G., Subramanian, S., Tangka, F. K., Bapat, B., & Richardson, L. C. (2008). Cost analysis of the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program: Selected states, 2003 to 2004. Cancer, 112, 626–635.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Esposito, D., Taylor, E. F., & Gold, M. (2009). Using qualitative and quantitative methods to evaluate small-scale disease management pilot programs. Population Health Management, 12, 3–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gipson, J. D., & Hindin, M. J. (2008). Having another child would be a life or death situation for her: Understanding pregnancy termination among couples in rural Bangladesh. American Journal of Public Health, 98, 1827–1832.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greene, J. C. (2008). Is mixed methods social inquiry a distinctive methodology? Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 2, 7–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, B., & Turner, L. A. (2003). Data collection strategies in mixed-methods. In A. Tashakkori & C. Teddlie (Eds.), Handbook of mixed methods in the social and behavioral research (pp. 297–319). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, R. B., Onwuegbuzie, A. J., & Turner, L. A. (2007). Toward a definition of mixed methods research. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 1, 112–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemaire, J. B., & Wallace, J. E. (2010). Not all coping strategies are created equal: A mixed methods study exploring physicians’ self reported coping strategies. BMC Health Services Research. doi:10.1186/1472-6963-10-208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halcomb, E. J., Andrew, S., & Brannen, J. (2009). Introduction to mixed methods research in nursing and the health science. In S. Andrew & E. J. Halcomb (Eds.), Mixed methods research for nursing and the health science (pp. 3–12). London: Wiley-Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagel, T., Robinson, G., Condon, J., & Trauer, T. (2009). Approach to treatment of mental illness and substance dependence in remote Indigenous communities: Results of a mixed methods study. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 14, 17–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, I., Ridenour, C., Newman, C., & DeMarco, G. M. P., Jr. (2003). A typology of research purposes and its relationship to mixed methods research. In A. Tashakkori & C. Teddlie (Eds.), Handbook of mixed methods in social & behavioral research (pp. 167–188). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oakley, A., Strange, V., Bonell, C., Allen, E., Stephenson, J., & Team, R. S. (2006). Process evaluation in randomised controlled trials of complex interventions. British Medical Journal, 332, 413–416.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Cathain, A. (2009). Mixed methods research in the health sciences: A quite revolution. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 3, 3–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Onwuegbuzie, A. J., & Teddlie, C. (2003). A framework for analyzing data in mixed methods research. In A. Tashakkori & C. Teddlie (Eds.), Handbook of mixed methods in social and behavioral research (pp. 351–383). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Padgett, D. K. (2004). Mixed methods, serendipity, and concentration. In D. K. Padgett (Ed.), The qualitative research experience (pp. 273–288). Belmont: Wadswoth/Thomson Learning.

    Google Scholar 

  • Puschel, K., & Thompson, B. (2011). Mammogram screening in Chile: Using mixed methods to implement health policy planning at the primary care level. Breast, 20, S40–45.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ruffin, M. T., IV, Creswell, J. W., Jimbo, M., & Fetters, M. D. (2009). Factors influencing choices for colorectal cancer screening among previously unscreened African and Caucasian Americans: Findings from a triangulation mixed methods investigation. Journal of Community Health, 34, 79–89.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sahin-Hodoglugil, N. N., van der Straten, A., Cheng, H., Montgomery, E. T., Kacanek, D., Mtetwa, S., et al. (2009). Degrees of disclosure: A study of women’s covert use of the diaphragm in an HIV prevention trial in sub-Saharan Africa. Social Science & Medicine, 69, 1547–1555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tashakkori, A., & Teddlie, C. (Eds.). (2010). Handbook of Mixed Methods in Social & Behavioral Research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitley, R. (2007). Mixed-methods studies. Journal of Mental Health, 16, 697–701.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woltmann, E. M., & Whitley, R. (2007). The role of staffing stability in the implementation of integrated dual disorders treatment: An exploratory study. Journal of Mental Health, 16, 757–769.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yin, R. K. (2006). Mixed methods research: Are the methods genuinely integrated or merely parallel? Research in the Schools, 13, 41–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, W. (2011). Mixed methods embedded design in medical education, mental health and health services research: A methodological analysis (Doctoral dissertation). Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. (Publication No. 3487306).

  • Zhang, W., & Creswell, J. W. (2012). The use of “mixing” procedure of mixed methods in health services research. Medical Care. doi:10.1097/MLR.0b013e31824642fd.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of Interest

None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Services Research and Administration, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984350 University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-4350, USA

    Wanqing Zhang

  2. Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984395 University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-4395, USA

    Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway

Authors
  1. Wanqing Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wanqing Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, W., Watanabe-Galloway, S. Using Mixed Methods Effectively in Prevention Science: Designs, Procedures, and Examples. Prev Sci 15, 654–662 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-013-0415-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-013-0415-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation