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# 23-F Considerations and Mixed Methods in Social : The Worldview Matrix

Thomas W. Christ Ph.D. Director and Chair of the Doctoral in Program; School of Education University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT

Researchers in the social have seen a strong shift known as Mixed Methods. Despite the widespread utilization of Mixed Methods across disciplines, the field is evolving both as a , and the methods used. Mixed Methods advocates including Creswell, Greene, Johnson, Onwuegbuzie, Mertens, Morse, Tashakkori, Teddlie, and interpretive research proponents including Denzin, Flick, and Morgan have all cited as the dominant paradigm in Mixed Methods research. Christ, Maxwell, and Lipscomb recently indicated that alternative are also viable and available. Considering how paradigms are used in the field of Mixed Methods helps the field continue to grow. This paper addresses current discussions about alternatives to Pragmatism including Critical Realism, and then, presents a tool called the worldview matrix that is designed to assist researchers, methodology teachers, and students to clarify and organize their Mixed Methods research design.

Worldview Post- Constructivism Pragmatism Critical Realism Transformative

Ontology: Etic-Outsider Singular Emic- Co- Multiple forms of Different levels of Inequalities exist. ( is what Reality Exists construction of reality. Follows a reality exist ranging Exposing power “exists” and ways in although imperfectly meaning. Each Deweyan “What from the objective that structures and bring which it can be represented in terms persons’ reality is works” action oriented is independent of voice of the oppressed represented) of probabilities different. No absolute view of reality human to light can lead to to subjective truths that we understand and grasp in the process of meaning making : Researcher distances Co-construction of Etic & Emic There are levels of Exposing inequalities (Theory of self from ‘subjects’ to about can co- objective truths that and representing the knowledge gain an ‘accurate’ events occurs as a exist in a single study. can be discerned, but voice of the oppressed constructed using ‘valid’ and ‘reliable’ result of closeness: Each strand forms finding absolute truths to the masses various sources of representation Researcher & knowledge that can be about social broadens social data. Analysis participants work compared and phenomenon is awareness. depends on research together to create combined increasing impossible Participants are question, data source knowledge. the credibility of the collaborators and purpose of the studies findings. study : Researcher attempts to Researcher and Multiple stances: Researchers Oppression exists in (Values in research) be unbiased and not participants recognize Values brought to the worldview influences the and the role How the role of values introduce own and negotiate forefront and how knowledge is of research should be influences the way values/prior their shared recognized as produced, to work towards research is conducted about interpretations and influencing the differentiated, increasing social when conducting and their views about the research process. stratified, and changed . analyzing data the research into meanings and process representative inferred from multiple sources of data Methodology: Deductive approach: Inductive approach: Mixed Approach: Construction and Participatory and How the processes of Test and verify A- Researcher uses Various forms of interpretation of action oriented research are used priori theories. constructivist qualitative and “subjective” and research is designed to Determine significant grounded data quantitative data are “objective” data, enhance individual, difference between analysis approaches to blended to create a processes are called social, and societal groups or strength in building , representative model “abduction” and wellbeing relationships between themes, and general “retroduction” that are variables. used to formulate “conceptualizations”.