Mixing it up: Understanding and using mixed methods research in social sciences

Overview

An online course for researchers which critically discusses mixed methods approaches to social science analysis.

While including a strong conceptual and theoretical component, the course aims to be very practical. It analyses the key advantages and challenges of mixed methods research by critically discussing a series of examples of mixed methods research "in action" at different social science departments at the University of Oxford.

Throughout the course, participants will be encouraged to share, explain and discuss the methodological challenges of their own research. The final online workshop will provide an opportunity to present and discuss emerging research proposals with the course tutor and other participants. The course is primarily (but not exclusively) targeted at researchers who are developing their research plans.

Programme details

The course will run over eight weeks. Participants can expect to engage with and contribute to the course for around 15 hours per week. Additional time to prepare for wider reading and assignment preparation is also required. The list of units is as follows:

Week 1: Online induction
Week 2: Varieties of mixed methods research: a critical introduction
Week 3: The first question: Why (not) mixed methods?
Week 4: A simple plan: how to design a mixed methods research project?
Week 5: Mixing it up? Analysis, interpretation and write-up
Week 6: Dissemination and 'impact': who cares about mixed methods research?
Week 7: Study week
Week 8: Synchronous online tutorial to present student’s research proposals

Certification

Accredited study

The University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education offers Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) points for this course. Participants contributing to all the forums and successfully completing the assessment (see below) will obtain 20 CATS-equivalent points (FHEQ level 7) which may count towards a Master’s level qualification.

Fees

Standard course fee: £945.00
Student rate: £450.00

Tutor

Ariel Lindorff - Tutor

Ariel conducts research in education, and is based in the Oxford University Department of Education. She has previously taught both quantitative and mixed research methods courses.

Her primary research interests include educational effectiveness and improvement, educational leadership, classroom practice, networking and collaboration, and equity issues in education.

She has recently worked on mixed methods research projects including a study of school networks in New York City, a study of inspiring teaching in English schools, and an evaluation of a Singapore Maths set of materials and pedagogical approach in English primary schools.

Dr Daria Luchinskaya - Tutor

Dr Daria Luchinskaya is a researcher at the Institute for Employment Research at the University of Warwick and a lecturer in Economics at St Anne's College, University of Oxford.

She has a long-running interest in public policy, particularly regarding education and skills. Her current research focuses on graduate employment and skill use at work in small firms in the UK.

She is also working on policy-relevant research on a variety of labour market issues, such as fragile employment, access to elite occupations, and innovation and job quality.

Daria is a proponent of mixed methods research (quantitative and qualitative), which she used extensively in her PhD on graduate employment in small firms in the UK (University of Warwick) and in her Masters research on the policy reforms in Russian higher education (University of Oxford).

Course aims

The course will enable researchers to:

• understand the meaning, key features and varieties of mixed methods research
• appreciate the types of research questions that can (not) be addressed using a mixed methods approach
• understand and think critically about the potential and limitations of mixed methods research
• appreciate the key challenges of mixed methods research and discuss different ways of addressing these challenges in practice
• consider whether mixed methods research is a suitable methodological approach for their research projects
• critically assess existing social science research and publications that use mixed methods
• discuss their own research proposals with the course tutor and other researchers

Assessment methods

All participants will be expected to complete two pieces of written work (2,000 words each) and present their research plans.

All participants will be expected to complete two pieces of written work.

The first assignment (2,000 words) is “formative”, i.e. it does not count toward the final grade. The first essay is an opportunity for students to receive feedback on their written work.

The formal assessment for this course will be based on the second assignment (4,000 words) which requires students to present and discuss the plans and methods of their own research projects.

Academic Credit

Applicants may take this course for academic credit. The University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education offers Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) points for this course. Participants attending at least 80% of the taught course and successfully completing assessed assignments are eligible to earn credit equivalent to 20 CATS points which may be counted towards a postgraduate qualification.

Applicants can choose not to take the course for academic credit and will therefore not be eligible to undertake the academic assignment offered to students taking the course for credit. Applicants cannot receive CATS (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme) points or equivalence. Credit cannot be attributed retrospectively. CATS accreditation is required if you wish for the course to count towards a further qualification in the future.

A Certificate of Completion is issued at the end of the course.

Applicants registered to attend ‘not for credit’ who subsequently wish to register for academic credit and complete the assignment are required to submit additional information, which must be received one calendar month in advance of the course start date. Please contact us for more details.

Application

Application deadline: two weeks before the commencement of the course.

We strongly recommend that you download and save files before completing to ensure that all your changes are saved.

This course requires you to complete the application form below.

Please ensure you read the guidance notes before completing the application form, as any errors resulting from failure to do so may delay your application.

• Short Course Application Form and Guidance Notes
• Terms and Conditions

Level and demands

At least some prior knowledge about qualitative and/or quantitative research methods is required.

Whilst it will be useful to researchers at any stage of their projects, the course is primarily aimed at people who are at the beginning of their research project.