Mixed Method Data Collection Strategies

by William G. Axinn , Lisa D. Pearce

• ISBN13: 9780521855686
• ISBN10: 0521855683
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-10-02
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Social scientists have long relied on a wide range of tools to collect information about the social world, but as individual fields have become more specialized, researchers are trained to use a narrow range of the possible data collection methods. This book draws on a broad range of available social data collection methods to formulate a new set of data collection approaches that combines elements of those existing methods. The new approaches described here are ideal for social science researchers who plan to collect new data about people, organizations, or social processes.The methods Axinn and Pearce present are designed to create a comprehensive empirical description of the subject being studied, with an emphasis on accumulating the information needed to understand what causes what, with a minimum of error. In addition to providing methodological motivation and underlying principles, the book is filled with detailed instructions and concrete examples for those who wish to apply the methods to their own research.

Author Biography

William G. Axinn is a sociologist, demographer, professor of sociology, and research professor at the Survey Research Center and Population Studies Center of the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan Lisa D. Pearce is an assistant professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Preface	xiii
Motivations for Mixed Method Social Research	1	(27)
Qualitative vs. Quantitative Approaches: Is This Distinction Useful?
The Study of Cause and Consequence in the Social Sciences
Introspection and Involvement
Central Principles in the Creation of Mixed Method Approaches
Fitting Data Collection Methods to Research Aims	28	(26)
Choices Among Research Designs
Matching Measurement Strategy to Aims
Special Measurement Problems
Conclusion
The Micro-Demographic Community Study Approach	54	(25)
Tamang Family Research Project
Benefits from Researchers' Involvement in the Field
Benefits from Obtaining Multiple Types of Evidence
Benefits from Incorporating Flexibility in the Process
Conclusion
Systematic Anomalous Case Analysis	79	(24)
A Study of Religion and Family Size Preferences in Nepal
Systematic Sampling of Anomalous Cases
Implementing Less Structured Methods
Using Ethnographic Insights to Revise Theories, Measures, and Methods
Conclusion
Neighborhood History Calendars	103	(35)
Contextual Event History Data
Neighborhood History Calendar Design and Implementation
Key Advantages of the Neighborhood History Calendar Design
Other Contextual History Calendars
Using Geographic Information System Technology to Enhance Contextual Data
Conclusion
Life History Calendars	138	(23)
Function and Design of Life History Calendars
Expanding the Age Range
Using Calendars Among Populations Who Don't Employ Time Records
New Life History Calendar Recording Strategies
Conclusion
Longitudinal Data Collection	161	(22)
Longitudinal Studies of Individuals
Longitudinal Studies of Other Units of Observation
Tools for Continuous Measurement
Mixing Methods in Longitudinal Designs
Conclusion
Conclusion	183	(16)
Principles of Mixed Method Data Collection
Role of Introspection
The Application of New Mixed Method Research
New Frontiers in Mixed Method Approaches
Notes	199	(4)
Bibliography	203	(20)
Index	223