1. Mixed Method Research for Policy Impact
Professors Deb Brennan and Bettina Cass
and
Dr. Christiane Purcal

2. Mixed Method Research for Policy Impact
Aims of the workshop:
To introduce the principles of mixed method research
To illustrate these principles through discussion of a recent ARC Linkage project
To focus in depth on one element of this project (a large-scale survey)
Schedule:
Welcome: Professor Anne Graham
Considerations in setting up a research project
Discussion of methods used in a recently completed ARC Linkage project ‘Grandparents Raising Grandchildren’: Deb Brennan and Bettina Cass
Morning tea
Designing and Implementing the Grandparent survey: Christiane Purcal
Discussion and questions
CLOSE

3. Outline Preliminary considerations Clarifying terms
Defining ‘mixed methods’
Why use mixed methods
Introducing the Grandparents project
Methods and study aims
Research for policy impact

4. Preliminary considerations
Identify and establish a research framework including theory, methodology and conceptual foundations
Theory, methods and research aims inhere in one another – they are not ‘stand alone’ considerations
In research designed to have policy impact, it is important to consider audience at the outset (policy makers, ministers and ministerial advisers, practitioners, service users and other stakeholders)

5. Clarifying terms
Conceptual framework is the foundational set of ideas that shape the research questions and aims – always based on critical reading of the literature
Methodology is the study of methods and deals with the philosophical assumptions underlying the research process.
Methods are the specific technique used for data collection
Research design is the plan of action that links methodology with the chosen methods
Defining mixed methods

6. Defining mixed methods
Mixed methods research … involves philosophical assumptions that guide the collection and analysis of data and the mixture of qualitative and quantitative approaches in many phases of the research process …
Its central premise is that the use of quantitative and qualitative approaches in combination provides a better understanding of research problems than either approach alone.
J. W. Cressell and V. L. Piano Clark, Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research, (London: Sage, 2006)

7. Why use mixed methods?
Using mixed methods should not be an a priori decision – it MUST flow from the research questions and aims and decisions about how these can best be investigated
Mixed methods may strengthen research findings by cross-verification or triangulation of data
May encourage the establishment of cross-disciplinary (and cross-institutional) teams
For policy impact!
Different approaches may resonate with particular audiences e.g. the ‘killer statistic’ or the ‘telling vignette’

8. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Origins of the project
Building links with Partner Organisations
Developing the research questions
Adapting the research design to the actual ARC budget
Perceptions about ‘audience’

9. Methods and study aims
Literature review and scoping of existing policy frameworks
Quantitative analysis of ABS Census and statistical data
Focus groups with policy makers and service providers
Survey of grandparents raising grandchildren
Interviews with Indigenous grandparents
To understand themes, theory and evidence emerging in Australia and overseas
To develop a new analytical approach to defining and enumerating GP headed families, their circumstances & characteristics
To gain the perspective of policy makers and NGOs on significant policy and practice issues
To draw forth the voices and perspectives of grandparents
To obtain finely-grained information from Indigenous grandparents telling their own stories

10. Research for policy impact
Researchers at SPRC and CCYP engage with policy makers and, where possible, seek to contribute to the development of an evidence base for effective, equitable policies
‘Policy scoping’ was extensively used in this project; it underpinned the research aims, the questions asked and the analysis of the lives of grandparent headed families
The range of methods used – quantitative and qualitative and engagement with policy makers and service providers - enabled us to understand the fluidity, complexity and diversity of grandparent headed families
A single method could not have achieved such rich analysis or provided the depth of evidence to contribute to policy developments nationally and in the States and Territories