Max Bergman is Professor of Social Research and Methodology at the University of Basel. He has held previous teaching and research posts at the Universities of Cambridge, Frankfurt, Johannesburg, Essex, Florence (European University Institute), Geneva, Lausanne, Nevada, Pretoria, St. Gall, Stellenbosch, the Witwatersrand, and Zurich. Until recently, he has been editor of the SAGE Journal of Mixed Methods Research, and he continues to work with, publish, and consult on this research design. His current research interests are sustainable corporate responsibility, mobility, work, and research methods.
This introductory course will teach participants when, how, and why to integrate a qualitative and a quantitative research component within one research design. The first part will cover research design issues, and theoretical assumptions and justifications for mixed methods. The second and third part will deal with qualitative and quantitative perspectives in a mixed methods research design, respectively. The fourth part will explore practical problems and solutions to mixed methods research. Throughout the week, daily exercises on how to collect and analyse data for mixed methods research will accompany the lectures. The participants are invited to work on their own data during the course, and they will have an opportunity to present their research in a one-to-one tutorial with the instructor.
Familiarity with the basics of either qualitative or quantitative methods; preparatory reading on the basics of mixed methods research is highly recommended.