Conceptualizing Longitudinal Mixed Methods Designs: A Methodological Review of Health Sciences Research

Authors

Vicki Plano-Clark, University of CincinnatiFollow
Nancy Anderson, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jessica A. Wertz, University of CincinnatiFollow
Yuchun Zhou, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Karen Schumacher, University of Nebraska Medical Center, OmahaFollow
Christine Miaskowski, University of California, San FranciscoFollow

Date of this Version

2014

Citation

Published in Journal of Mixed Methods Research (2014), 23 pp.; doi: 10.1177/1558689814543563

Comments

Copyright © 2014 Vicki L. Plano Clark, Nancy Anderson, Jessica A.Wertz, Yuchun Zhou, Karen Schumacher, and Christine Miaskowski. Published by Sage Publications. Used by permission.

Abstract

Longitudinal research is well suited for investigating phenomena that change over time. With the growing acceptance of mixed methods, researchers are combining qualitative and quantitative approaches within longitudinal research. However, little attention has been paid to how researchers integrate longitudinal mixed methods databases. The purpose of this methodological review was to describe how researchers combine mixed methods and longitudinal approaches in practice and delineate dimensions and issues inherent within these complex designs. We examined published empirical studies from the health sciences that self-identified as longitudinal and mixed methods. Our results identify major dimensions, variations, and issues for designing longitudinal mixed methods research and suggest recommendations for researchers interested in using this complex approach.