A Local-State Government Spatial Data Sharing Partnership

101
Chapter 4 – Research Design and Methods
In the second approach, the quantitative study can be conducted as a preliminary to the
main study or at the end of the main study. It can provide background data to
contextualise small intensive studies, test hypotheses derived through qualitative methods
or provide a basis for sampling and comparison. The final approach provides equal
weighting to each method. The two studies are considered as separate but linked, and can
be performed simultaneously or consecutively. The processes may be linked at various
stages in the research process and then integrated to formulate the final outcomes.
The priority, implementation timing, stage of integration and theoretical perspectives can
assist in classifying the mixed method approach (Creswell et al. 2003). The authors
propose six design types through the application of these four criteria (see Table 4.1).
Table 4.1 Mixed method design types (Creswell et al. 2003, p. 224)
Design Type Implementation Priority Stage of
Integration
Sequential
explanatory
Sequential
exploratory
Sequential
transformative
Concurrent
triangulation
Concurrent
nested
Concurrent
transformative
Quantitative
followed by
qualitative
Qualitative followed
by quantitative
Either quantitative
followed by
qualitative or
reverse
Concurrent
collection of
quantitative and
qualitative data
Concurrent
collection of
quantitative and
qualitative data
Concurrent
collection of
quantitative and
qualitative data
Usually
quantitative; can be
qualitative or equal
Usually qualitative;
can be quantitative
or equal
Quantitative,
qualitative or equal
Preferably equal;
can be quantitative
or qualitative
Quantitative or
qualitative
Quantitative,
qualitative or equal
Theoretical
Perspective
Interpretation phase May be present
Interpretation phase May be present
Interpretation phase Definitely
present
Interpretation phase
or analysis phase
May be present
Analysis phase May be present
Usually analysis
phase; can be
during the
interpretation phase
Definitely
present
This research followed the fourth typology, whereby the qualitative and quantitative
studies are considered approximately equal. The qualitative case studies of three
partnership arrangements were examined and described initially. The insights from these
partnership case studies provide an understanding of not only the issues, but also the
context of their development with each jurisdiction. The initial understandings then
provided the basis for the development of the survey instrument distributed to local
government. The cases were then revisited and clarified in association with the
quantitative analysis. In terms of the design classification types proposed by Creswell et
al. (2003), the concurrent triangulation classification (highlighted) is perhaps the closest
fit.