Mixed methods: Combining expert interviews, cross-impact analysis and scenario development

What is it about?

We describe a mixed methodology case using a qualitative-quantitative-qualitative approach. First, we use qualitative work with expert interviews for data collection. Second, we use a quantitative analysis of the interviews. Third, we adopt another qualitative method of final scenario development for analysing and presenting the results. We show that the quantitative step of a cross- impact-analysis, was beneficial for the overall research leading to surprising results that could not have been achieved with only a qualitative approach. Having a quantitative analysis step in- between, which demonstrated the most frequent and consistent results out of a wide range of overall possibilities, helped reduce researcher bias, thereby increasing the credibility of the findings.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

This paper gives researchers using qualitative data collection a much stronger foundation in terms of the analysis and display of data.