Secondary data are data (primary sources) that were originally collected by someone else (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2015, p316). Whatsources anddata you are using and why(how are they going to help you answer the research question and/ortest the hypothesis. Fetters, Michael D. The Mixed Methods Research Workbook: Activities for Designing, Implementing, and Publishing Projects. 0 vols. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, Inc., 2020. Sage Research Methods, Mixed Methods Research Series, 29 Nov 2023, doi: https:// doi. org/10.4135/9781071909713. Ensuring Ethical Conduct of Research With Human Subjects and Developing a Mixed Methods Research Protocol Describe all materials used for the study, including equipment, written materials and testing instruments.

Quantitative methods can be difficult, expensive and time consuming (especially if using primary data, rather than secondary data). There is some confusion on the use of thetermsprimary and secondary sources, and primary and secondary data. The confusion is also due to disciplinary differences (Lombard 2010). Whilst you are advised to consult the research methods literature in your field, we can generalise as follows: Winner of the 2020 Most Promising New Textbook Award from the Textbook & Academic Authors Association.Primary data are data (primary sources) you directly obtained through your empirical work (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2015, p316). When undertakingmixed-methodsresearch you can collect the qualitative and quantitative data either concurrently or sequentially. If sequentially, you can for example,start with a few semi-structured interviews, providing qualitative insights, and then design a questionnaire to obtain quantitative evidence that your qualitative findings can also apply to a wider population (Specht, 2019, p138). Often, especially at the postgraduate level, it will also useprimary sources- secondary and/or primary data. The engagement with primary sources is generally appreciated, as less reliant on others' interpretations, and closer to 'facts'. In this case, a group of people (normally, 4-12) is gathered for an interview where the interviewer asks questions to such group of participants. Group interactions and discussions can be highly productive, but the researcherhas tobeware of the group effect, whereby certain participants and views dominate the interview (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill 2015, p419). The researcher can try to minimise this by encouraging involvement of all participants and promoting a multiplicity of views. Exploring new and novel applications of existing mixed methods research design practices, the handbook provides comprehensive integration guidance while showcasing how design innovations inspire and contribute to investigating previously under-researched social issues and populations.

An example of a mixed method dissertation outline is now included in the set of guidelines for reporting mixed methods research in a proposal, dissertation, or journal article. Ensuring Mixed Methods Research Integrity: Quality Considerations for Mixed Methods Research and Evaluation Studies There are several methods you can use to get primary data. To reiterate,the choice of the methods should depend on your research question/hypothesis.

what was the size of your sample?Who made up your sample?How did you select your sample population? Why did you choose thatparticular samplingstrategy?)

Quantitative research uses numerical data (quantities) deriving,for example,from experiments, closed questions in surveys, questionnaires, structured interviewsorpublished data sets (Cottrell, 2014, p93). It normally processes and analyses thisdata using quantitative analysis techniques like tables,graphsand statistics to explore, present and examine relationships and trends within the data (Saunders, Lewis and Thornhill, 2015, p496).

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The study can be undertaken on a broader scale, generating large amounts of data that contribute to generalisation of results why did you choose one technique over another? What were the advantages and disadvantages of the technique you chose? Examples: data available via the internet, non-government and government agencies, public libraries, educational institutions, commercial/business information