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(This is for discussion #1)

Respond to these 4 colleagues' postings . In your responses, be sure to do the following:

· Address the content of each colleague's analysis and evaluation of the topic, as well as the integration of relevant resources.

· Address the question(s) posed by each colleague for further discussion.

· Analyze the relationship between each colleague’s posting to other colleagues’ postings or to other course materials and concepts, where appropriate and relevant.

· Include proper APA citations.

Respond to #1

Synthesize two mixed-methods studies that include how the study might contribute to your potential research topic, either directly or tangentially.

The first article that was used for the syncretization is by Rabiah and Zahri (n.d.). In this study, the two researchers found a way to use mixed method research to identify how and why cyber terrorism happens. This is very helpful for my research, as I will be comparing a similar approach to a healthcare environment. The approach of my study will not be as broad as Rabiah and Zahri; I will consider the grounded theory and use the observation and interview concepts they too found to be very helpful. As mentioned, (Radiah & Zahri, n.d.) the use of mixed-method allows the researchers to use both theory and verification within one research and not have to conduct multiple studies to get information that can be compared. Also, using this approach has been viewed as an acceptable practice in social sciences (Srnka and Koeszegi, 2007), so the use of both methods provide a better of looking at the information and concluding the information as a whole. The study conducted by Shilton, Subramaniam, Vitak, and Winter (n.d.) had an interesting approach. The researchers took a qualitative approach and used a fishbowl session to elicit information from the participants. The one major factor that helped the study was that the group could talk about a controlled environment, (Shilton & et al., n.d.) without the need for someone to lead them into the discussion.

Explain how the research instrument, theoretical framework, research questions, and hypotheses from each study inform your research approach.

The use of the fishbowl approach would certainly allow for an observation from the researcher as the participants talked about the issues. However, I could see the downhill spiral the fishbowl method could take if not managed properly. The articles have the own research questions and associated research questions, but I don’t see those becoming relevant to my study that this point.

Post at least two questions that will elicit suggestions and further responses from your colleagues.

 

What would be the pros and cons of using the fishbowl method for group conversation?

 

If the need to have a multidisciplinary team is necessary for the use of mixed-method, what specialties would be helpful?

 

References

K. J. Srnka and S. T. Koeszegi, “From Words to Numbers: How to Transform Qualitative Data into Meaningful Quantitative Results,” SBR 59 Simply the Best Research, pp. 29-57, 2007.

 

Rabiah, A., & Zahri, Y. (n.d.). The Application of Mixed Method in Developing a Cyber Terrorism Framework. https://doi.org/10.4236/jis.2012

Respond #2

The two research studies are as follows:

A study on the performance of virtualization programs

            This study uses the following research instrument of experimentation and observation (Masjedi, 2012). This empirical study seeks to validate the empirical research through observation and experimentation. Empirical research does required the researcher to make a hypothesis and then prove it or disprove it. My research is going to focus on virtualization security pertaining to the embedded machines. I really don't see how observation would apply in this scenario. I believe that I would be better served by a survey or an interview survey structure because it's simply not practical to observe IT professionals when the problem statement is regarding specific protocols that would be deployed or in place.

            The research question that the author proposes is "how virtualization programs can be evaluated in terms of performance and cost-effectiveness (Masjedi, 2012)?" This actually would be similar to the questions that I would be asking of senior IT professionals in regards to their protocols focusing on the placement of security mechanisms in proximity to the hardware. I would be asking them if they rely on placing the security mechanism within the guest operating system or as a virtual machine so that operates in the virtualization layer.

Understanding the virtualization of the backpacker culture and the emergence of the flashpacker: A method

            Paris (2010) uses the following research questions:

· Is there a shared or common cultural model among backpackers?

· Are there differences in the cultural models of flashpackers and non-flashpackers? If so, what are the differences? What are the implications of these differences?

· What information and communication technologies are preferred by backpackers?And how are these technologies used? How do they contribute to the backpacking culture and experience?

· What is the structure of the virtual space of backpacking? Where is the virtual backpacking culture moored? What are the implications of the virtualization of the backpacker culture?

            These research questions are interesting because they remind me of the potential questions I would use for a survey. Even though this is a mixed methods research study, I think these questions are pertinent because they would be viable survey questions.

            My questions to the class are:

1. how many of you think that a mixed methods study is a viable path to your completion of the your doctoral study?

2. Will I asked this question because to me, it seems like a mixed methods study is twice the work. So why would Naidu one or the other, but certainly not both?

References

Paris, C. (2010). Understanding the virtualization of the backpacker culture and the emergence of the flashpacker: A mixed-method (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Arizona State University, Temple, AZ.

Masjedi, A. (2012). A study on the performance of virtualization programs (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.

(This is for discussion #2)

Respond #3

· What is the role of mixed-methods designs?

The general rule or idea of the mixed method allows the research to take two methods and compare them to each other, (Wisdom and Creswell, 2013) which provides a more synergistic evaluation to the overall method.

· Why would it be important for a researcher to be conversant in both quantitative and qualitative methods?

I think that one reason would be needed for a researcher to well versed in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, would be to have an understanding of the important variables in the research. Also to have a better direction of what the hypothesis means and how or if it can be tried using a quantitative approach. Another reason that is important is to look at how the two methods may help to address answers from each of the methods outcomes. The results of a qualitative method may help test the issues of a quantitative method (Creswell, 2014).

· How can quantitative and qualitative research methods complement one another?

One way that a qualitative and quantitative would be used to help each other would be to look at the time findings. The outcomes from the qualitative and quantitative methods can help explain more. For example, the findings of a qualitative may explain the reasoning of the quantitative from a behavioral perspective.

· Would it ever be viable to consider only quantitative or only qualitative methods for a research study?

I think it would be viable and from what I have read in (Creswell, 2014) and given in feedback, it is the most common way of approaching a situation in the IT field. The use of observing is paramount in some studies that require the research to be able to see how certain variables play into a situation, and these can only be found in a qualitative method.

· How can mixed-methods versus single (qual-quan) methods extend our understanding of a research problem?

Ness (Week 7 Discussion Board 2, 2017), the use of mixed-method is not common nor approved when dealing with business or technology related topics. However, when the two studies have a linking part like results, then it would be something to consider.

· How do your thoughts on these questions relate to your worldview?

One way that these questions relate to my worldview is that it makes me see what methods provide me a way to answer a question. It provides a way to see how the two methods can be used together to answer a bigger question. For example, if a research topic was selected for eating chocolate and the results showed that it is sweet and certain people crave sweet food, then qualitative would be able to see those results and ask why.

 

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

 

Wisdom, J., & Creswell, J. W. (2013, March). Mixed Methods: Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative ... Retrieved August 16, 2017, from https://pcmh.ahrq/gov/page/

Respond #4

Mixed methods research collects data in both qualitative and quantitative data. Merging both methods to use philosophical assumptions and theoretical frameworks. Creswell (2014) states “The assumption of this form of inquiry is that the combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches provides a more complete understanding of a research problem that either approach alone” (p.4). There are six types of mixed methods that a student can choose from. Convergent parallel design the research collects both qualitative and quantitative, analyzes the data separately, and compares then to confirm or disconfirm each other. Explanatory sequential design is a two-phase project where the research starts off by collecting quantitative data in the first phase and analyzes the results. The second phase uses the results to build the qualitative phase. Exploratory sequential design explores qualitative data and analysis and uses the findings in a second quantitative phase. Embedded mixed methods design nests one or more forms of quantitative, qualitative or both within a larger design. In transformative mixed methods design the researcher uses social justice theory as a framework. Lastly, multiphase mixed methods is where researchers conduct several mixed methods projects.

Mixed methods role is to basically cover the bases of what qualitative and quantitative can’t do separately. On their own qualitative and quantitative have weaknesses that make the other more appealing. Together qualitative research and quantitative research merge and offset the weaknesses. Qualitative and quantitative are able to complement one another due to the different directions of each method. Qualitative uses words while quantitative uses numbers. Quantitative tests objective theories by examining the relationship of variables. Qualitative explores and understands an individuals or group perspective of an issue (Creswell, 2014). I believe it is viable to only consider one over the other and vice versa. If the research study does not require or even the researcher is not interested in using mixed methods then it will be viable to choose only qualitative or quantitative. Mixed methods allows the researcher to understand the data by seeing it from both sides. The researcher will be able to use both methods to collect and/or analyze data. My worldview is transformative there is actually a mixed method design dedicated to a transformative worldview. Notwithstanding, my study is not based on my type of worldview.

Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications .