Missed opportunities in mixed methods EdTech research? Visual joint display development as an analytical strategy for...

Area of Science:

• Educational Technology
• Research Methodology

Background:

• Mixed methods research is increasingly used in educational technology to tackle complex issues.
• Concerns exist regarding the quality and rigor of mixed methods research in this field.
• Explicit integration of qualitative and quantitative findings, particularly using visual joint displays, is often lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore procedures, opportunities, and challenges of mixed methods integration in educational technology research.
• To demonstrate the utility of visual joint displays for data interpretation and reporting.
• To advance methodological knowledge by addressing the integration challenge in mixed methods studies.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes an exploratory sequential mixed methods multiple case study design.
• Provides step-by-step guidance on developing and using visual joint displays for integrated analysis.
• Illustrates integration across multiple levels: literature review, theory, analysis, interpretation, and reporting.

Main Results:

• Visual joint displays offer a practical tool for comprehensive integration of diverse data.
• Integration at multiple levels enhances the depth and rigor of mixed methods research findings.
• The proposed approach facilitates deeper insights and overcomes common methodological limitations.

Conclusions:

• Visual joint displays are crucial for achieving comprehensive integration in mixed methods educational technology research.
• Effective integration strategies, like visual joint displays, are essential for improving research quality.
• This methodological guidance assists researchers in conducting more robust and insightful mixed methods studies.