Research Report: Mixed Method Design for Small Business Financial Aid

This report focuses on the mixed method research design, specifically in the context of problems faced by small businesses seeking financial assistance from Canadian banks. It begins by outlining the strengths of this research method, such as its ability to address a wider range of research questions and provide stronger evidence through the convergence of qualitative and quantitative results. Conversely, the report highlights the weaknesses, including the technical complexities and the time-consuming nature of integrating multiple approaches. The author justifies the choice of the mixed method, emphasizing its capacity to combine the advantages of both qualitative and quantitative approaches at all stages of the study, enabling the integration of literature reviews with quantitative survey data. The report also identifies expected barriers to data integration, such as limitations in questioning the case study due to its small size and the lack of immediate access to relevant data and literature. Finally, the report discusses the limitations and problems associated with the mixed method, such as its complexity compared to single methods, the need for extensive analysis and the required allocation of time and resources.

Running head: MIXED METHOD RESEARCH DESIGN 1
Mixed Method Research Design
By (Name of Student)
(Institutional Affiliation)
(Date of Submission)

MIXED METHOD RESEARCH DESIGN 2
Strengths and Weaknesses of my chosen method of Research
Based on my study topic which is ‘Problems being faced by small business while
undertaking financial assistance by Canadian banks’, mixed method approach is my chosen
research method. Mixed method generally implies an investigation which seeks answers to a
specific question or problem. In regard to this therefore, there exist a number of weaknesses
and strengths which are associated with this method.
First, application of mixed method allows the researcher to tackle a wider and more
complete range of research questions owing to the fact that the researcher is not confined
with the tenets of that particular method of the research. Secondly, in the beginning of
investigator conjuring up a conclusion under this method, they are always in good position to
give stronger evidence in the conclusion bit through convergence and collaboration of the
results. Furthermore, this method allows the researcher to increase the simplicity of the
findings (Harper, 2013).
On the other hand, this method exhibits a number of shortcoming when this method is
applied. First, owing to the duplicity of this method, its application in this one study or work
can prove technicality and difficulty to be handled by me. This is usually a case especially
when the researcher has to apply two or more approaches concurrently.
By applying this method on my topic in this case, will force me to learn about multiple
methods and approaches and understand how to appropriately mix these approaches
(Venkatesh and Brown, 2013). Moreover, mixed of researcher will be expensive and time
consuming for me to use because of its duplicity of its contents.
Reasons why I would proceed with this method in research.
In my work therefore, I would proceed with this method since it combines the
strengths of both qualitative and quantitative approaches at all stages of my study. For

MIXED METHOD RESEARCH DESIGN 3
instance, I will be able to use all the required past literatures and additionally compare and
analyse the quantitative data collected from the actual survey. In addition to this, I will
privileged to use and add precision to words, pictures and narratives to my work as opposed
to other methods. Also, I will apply this method since it allows me (researcher) to generate
and actually test a number of grounded theories related to my research problems.
Barriers to data integration that I would expect at this stage of the research
At this stage, the main barrier I would expect is diffraction which will not offer me
the opportunity to question the case under the study. This will a problem to deal with since
this a small case of the study. Also, at this stage, I lack the opportunity to deal with actual
data and the respective literatures related to my topic of study.
Limitations and Problems associated with this method
Finally, there exist a number of limitation and problems which are associated with this
method. First, mixed method is considered to be difficult as compared to other single
methods. This is because we only have to do solid research with two different approaches.
This method is also deemed to be difficult to many users due to the fact that it requires much
more analysis and rendition (Saunders et al., 2012). More time and resources will as well be
required and this may boring to me.

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References
Barriers to Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Research by Bryman, A., in Journal of
Mixed Methods Research, Vol. 1/Issue 1. Copyright 2007 by Sage Publications Inc.
Reprinted by permission of Sage Publications Inc. Journals via the Copyright
Clearnace Center.
Harper, G.M (2013)’Mixed methods research’. Salem Press Encyclopaedia, Rearcher
Starters, EBSCOhost, (Accessed: 1 September 2016)
Venkatesh, V., Brown, S.A. & Bala, H. (2013)’Bridging the qualitative-quantitative divide.
Guidelines for conducting mixed methods research in information systems’. MIS
Quarterly, 37(1), pp. 21-54.
Saunders, M.m Lewis, P. & Thornhill, A., (2012) Research Methods for Business Students,
6th ed. Pearson Learning Solutions.