What are the different types of mixed methods research designs used in political science?

In political science, there are several types of mixed methods research designs that are commonly used. These designs combine both qualitative and quantitative research methods to provide a comprehensive understanding of political phenomena. Some of the different types of mixed methods research designs used in political science include:

1. Sequential Explanatory Design: This design involves conducting quantitative research first, followed by qualitative research to further explore and explain the quantitative findings. It allows researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between variables and the underlying reasons behind the observed patterns.

2. Sequential Exploratory Design: In this design, qualitative research is conducted first to explore a particular political phenomenon or issue. The findings from the qualitative phase then inform the development of quantitative research, which is used to generalize the findings to a larger population or context.

3. Sequential Transformative Design: This design involves conducting qualitative research first to identify a problem or issue, followed by quantitative research to measure the impact of interventions or policies aimed at addressing the identified problem. The qualitative phase helps in understanding the context and informing the design of the quantitative phase.

4. Convergent Design: In this design, both qualitative and quantitative data are collected simultaneously and analyzed separately. The findings from both methods are then compared and integrated to provide a comprehensive understanding of the research question. This design allows for triangulation of data and validation of findings.

5. Embedded Design: This design involves using one method (either qualitative or quantitative) as the main approach, while the other method is used to provide additional insights or support the main findings. For example, a quantitative survey may be supplemented with qualitative interviews to provide a more nuanced understanding of the survey results.

These different types of mixed methods research designs in political science offer researchers the flexibility to combine different research methods and approaches, allowing for a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of political phenomena.