{"id":257,"date":"2021-11-17T10:00:58","date_gmt":"2021-11-17T10:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/?p=257"},"modified":"2021-11-11T16:26:43","modified_gmt":"2021-11-11T16:26:43","slug":"mixed-methods-reviews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/2021\/11\/17\/mixed-methods-reviews\/","title":{"rendered":"Mixed Methods Reviews"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Most researchers have heard of and understand the needs of a systematic review (SR), however the concept of a mixed methods review (MMR) can be confusing. The types of questions students and researchers ask can include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><em>Can I do this type of research? <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><em>How do I combine the data? <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><em>My quantitative and qualitative data are different \u2013 how do I make sense of this? <\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>MMRs differ from the traditional model of SR as they aim to answer complex interventions and social policy type questions. They go beyond what works and look to highlight the complexity of what is happening, to explain why things make an impact and what may influence how an intervention works, offering context to interventions.<\/p>\n<p>To answer such questions MMRs need to draw from both quantitative and qualitative material (<a href=\"https:\/\/journals.lww.com\/ijebh\/Fulltext\/2015\/09000\/A_mixed_methods_approach_to_systematic_reviews.3.aspx\">Pearson et al, 2015<\/a>), but this does not mean they cannot be systematic!<\/p>\n<p>To be systematic they should demonstrate the same transparent and explicit approach that established SR methods require &#8211; so have a protocol, as well as detailed reporting of methods. There would need to be appraisal and analysis of the included literature. They would need to show a rigorous research process (<a href=\"https:\/\/discovered.ed.ac.uk\/permalink\/44UOE_INST\/7g3mt6\/alma9924607849902466\">Gough et al, 2017<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>There are different review approaches included in this type of research, but it is important that the research question uses both qualitative and quantative data. If the research question does not then it may be better to use another type of review method. An overview of review types can be found in an article by <a href=\"https:\/\/discovered.ed.ac.uk\/permalink\/44UOE_INST\/1viuo5v\/cdi_scopus_primary_2003193691\">Sutton et al (2019).<\/a><\/p>\n<p>How the types of data are combined depends on the research objectives of the review.<\/p>\n<p>The resource <strong>SAGE Research Methods<\/strong> (which is available to all staff and students at the University via our Library Databases pages) has lots of information and advice on the ways that the differing data can be analysed and combined, as well as an overview of this family of research methodology.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ed.ac.uk\/information-services\/library-museum-gallery\/finding-resources\/library-databases\/databases-a-z\/databases-s\">https:\/\/www.ed.ac.uk\/information-services\/library-museum-gallery\/finding-resources\/library-databases\/databases-a-z\/databases-s<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/methods.sagepub.com\/images\/virtual\/sage-handbook-of-mixed-methods-social-behavioral-research-2e\/9781506335193-bookcover.jpg?resize=150%2C214&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Book cover for SAGE handbook of Mixed Methods in Social &amp; Behavioural Research\" width=\"150\" height=\"214\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/methods.sagepub.com\/images\/virtual\/mixed-methods-research-a-guide-to-the-field\/9781483306759-bookcover.jpg?resize=150%2C225&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Book cover for Mixed Methods Research: A guide to the field\" width=\"150\" height=\"225\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/methods.sagepub.com\/images\/virtual\/an-introduction-to-fully-integrated-mixed-methods-research\/9781483350936-bookcover.jpg?resize=150%2C186&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Book cover for An Introduction To Fully Integrated Mixed Methods Research\" width=\"150\" height=\"186\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Donna Watson<br \/>\n<em>Academic Support Librarian\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most researchers have heard of and understand the needs of a systematic review (SR), however the concept of a mixed methods review (MMR) can be confusing. The types of questions students and researchers ask can include: Can I do this &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/2021\/11\/17\/mixed-methods-reviews\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[67],"tags":[26,13,17,25,68,19],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcUES5-49","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":666,"url":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/2024\/03\/20\/systematic-reviews-five-frequently-asked-questions\/","url_meta":{"origin":257,"position":0},"title":"Systematic Reviews: five frequently asked questions","date":"March 20, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"When the Academic Support Librarians provide help for students and researchers who are conducting large-scale reviews, such as systematic and scoping reviews, we find that often the same questions will come up. This blog post aims to answer five of your frequently asked questions about systematic reviews and provide some\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;FAQs&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"Infographic of a process.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/files\/2024\/03\/infographic-2867656_1280.png?fit=1200%2C659&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":951,"url":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/2025\/01\/17\/systematic-review-search-strategies-training-and-resources\/","url_meta":{"origin":257,"position":1},"title":"Systematic review search strategies &#8211; training and resources","date":"January 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Are you developing a search strategy for a systematic review or other evidence synthesis? Here we have collated a list of useful training and guidance resources to help you. The Learn course LibSmart II: Advance Your Library Research has a whole module on Literature Searching for Systematic Reviews.\u00a0 LibSmart II\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Information Literacy &amp; Library Skills&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/files\/2024\/03\/funnel-2487506_640-284x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":51,"url":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/2021\/04\/30\/dissertation-festival-blog-so-what-is-a-systematic-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":257,"position":2},"title":"Dissertation Festival Blog: So\u2026 what is a systematic review?","date":"April 30, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Introduction Welcome to the first of three blogs, where I document my Dissertation Festival Experience. For those who don\u2019t know, the Library\u2019s Dissertation Festival is a collaborative effort from the\u00a0Library, Digital Skills department and Institute of Academic Development (IAD). They have come together to host a series of virtual sessions\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Dissertation Festival&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/files\/2021\/03\/DFB-SR.png?fit=602%2C338&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":243,"url":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/2021\/11\/08\/making-library-data-work-for-us\/","url_meta":{"origin":257,"position":3},"title":"Making library data work for us","date":"November 8, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"On 2-4 November I attended the LibPMC Conference (International Conference on Performance Measurement in Libraries). The conference content was really varied, including a focus on the needs of stakeholders and communities and actively using qualitative and quantitative data to improve services and the user experience. Here are some highlights. But\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Conference reports&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/files\/2021\/11\/accountant-ge0a5782a1_1280-1024x782.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":215,"url":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/2021\/11\/25\/finding-resources-subject-guides\/","url_meta":{"origin":257,"position":4},"title":"Finding Resources:\u00a0Subject Guides","date":"November 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Where to start? Following on from my general tips for finding resources and navigating the online library, this blog post will cover why you should check out Subject Guides, and highlights some resources, old and new, that you may not already know about for studies.\u00a0 When\u00a0you are looking for resources,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Online Library&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/files\/2021\/11\/Gale_ArchivesSexualityGender.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":443,"url":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/2023\/01\/05\/e-resources-trials-from-the-library\/","url_meta":{"origin":257,"position":5},"title":"E-Resources trials from the library","date":"January 5, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Welcome back to all staff and students! This blog has been a bit quiet of late due to high workload and some understaffing in our team, but we wanted to start off the new year with some good news and thought we'd alert everyone to some of the excellent e-resource\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Online Library&quot;","img":{"alt_text":"Several scientific flasks and beakers are placed in a line on a workbench. Each contain a different coloured liquid. The image conveys an experiment or trial.  ","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cdn.pixabay.com\/photo\/2018\/07\/12\/10\/38\/chemistry-3533039_1280.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/163"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=257"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":258,"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257\/revisions\/258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/libraryblogs.is.ed.ac.uk\/asl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}