Description

Methodological congruence in complex and collaborative mixed method studies

WILFREDA E THURSTON

Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Gender Research, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada

LESLIE COVE

Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada

LYNN M MEADOWS

Departments of Family Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada

ABSTRACT

The concept of methodological congruence has gained more attention due to the need for careful planning of coherence and purpose among parts of research studies. The complexity of the study, the goals of the study, and the research questions that focus the study must all be taken into consideration. Maintaining methodological congruence, therefore, is an important aspect of employing multiple methods and ensuring study validity. In this study we sought to understand the impacts of social context on processes of adaptation, integration, and maintenance of a new program within a health system. This article clarifies the terms used in mixed method and mixed strategy studies and offers a case example of how methodological strategies can be integrated and used to foster triangulation and validity in the data by giving attention to methodological congruence at all stages of research.

Keywords: mixed methods; mixed strategies; triangulation; methodological congruence; collaboration; methodological complexity