Criteria for Quantitative and Qualitative Data Integration: Mixed-Methods Research Methodology

• Published in: Computers, informatics, nursing Vol. 30; no. 5; pp. 251 - 256
• Main Authors: LEE, SEONAH, SMITH, CARROL A M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc 01-05-2012
• Subjects: Hospital Information Systems; Humans; Information Management - methods; Nursing; Qualitative Research; Research Design
• ISSN: 1538-2931; 1538-9774
• DOI: 10.1097/NXN.0b013e31824b1f96

Many studies have emphasized the need and importance of a mixed-methods approach for evaluation of clinical information systems. However, those studies had no criteria to guide integration of multiple data sets. Integrating different data sets serves to actualize the paradigm that a mixed-methods approach argues; thus, we require criteria that provide the right direction to integrate quantitative and qualitative data. The first author used a set of criteria organized from a literature search for integration of multiple data sets from mixed-methods research. The purpose of this article was to reorganize the identified criteria. Through critical appraisal of the reasons for designing mixed-methods research, three criteria resultedvalidation, complementarity, and discrepancy. In applying the criteria to empirical data of a previous mixed methods study, integration of quantitative and qualitative data was achieved in a systematic manner. It helped us obtain a better organized understanding of the results. The criteria of this article offer the potential to produce insightful analyses of mixed-methods evaluations of health information systems.