Mixed Method and Multi-Method Social Research. An Interdisciplinary Network on the Methodology and Applications of Integrative Research Methods

在过去的二十年里，混合方法和多方法研究(MMMR)已经成为广泛的社会科学学科中的一种既定的经验方法。定量和定性方法的集成是一个日益增长的研究领域，MMMR-设计越来越被认为是与传统的单一方法方法一起的一种强大的策略。然而，这一积极的发展也伴随着几个问题：首先，MMMR的普及导致了方法论概念和术语的相当大的扩展。由此产生的过多概念化仍有待纳入广泛适用的方法学框架。在目前的状态下，关于MMMR的方法论文献--至少在某些情况下--容易引起混乱而不是清晰，例如在验证标准或数据分析策略领域。第二，方法论对话有时会受到学科界限的阻碍，因为MMM的研究人员倾向于分学科或研究领域，例如在教育科学、心理学或比较政治学。拟议的科学网络将通过提供以问题为中心的跨学科讨论的基础设施来处理这些方法论问题。与此同时，它的目的是加强德语国家和国际方法社区之间的交流。将强调以下主题：(1)如何在不影响多样性的情况下更充分地整合当前MMMR概念和术语的多样性？(2)MMMR中的因果分析有哪些不同的方法，以及它们之间有哪些可能的途径来进行更有成效的对话？(3)MMMR采样和数据收集方面目前的问题和进展是什么？(4)MMMR数据分析中目前存在的问题和创新的潜力是什么？(5)走向实用、MMMR的全面质量标准和最佳实践指南？(6)沟通MMMR结果和教授MMMR技能的典型障碍是什么？有哪些可能的方法来减少这些障碍？这些问题将在连续六次讲习班会议上讨论。在每次会议期间，网络成员将提交关于各自主题的论文，国际专家嘉宾将对这些论文进行评论。受邀专家的公开演讲将补充该计划。讲习班成果的文件和传播将通过网络网站以及网络小组组织的最后一次国际会议提供。网络会议的主要成果将在国际上可见的文章集中发表。

During the past two decades mixed methods and multi method research (MMMR) has become an established empirical approach within a broad spectrum of social science disciplines. The integration of quantitative and qualitative methods is a growing research area and MMMR-Designs are increasingly acknowledged as a powerful strategy alongside traditional mono-method approaches. However, this positive development has been accompanied by several issues.Firstly, the popularization of MMMR has led to a considerable expansion of methodological concepts and terminologies. The resulting plethora of conceptualizations remains yet to be integrated into a broadly applicable methodological framework. In its current state, the methodological literature on MMMR is - at least in some instances - prone to cause confusion rather than clarity, e.g. in the areas of validation criteria or data analysis strategies.Secondly, methodological dialog is sometimes hindered by disciplinary boundaries, since MMM-researchers tend to remain grouped into disciplines or research fields, e.g. in educational science, psychology, or comparative political science.The proposed scientific network will take on these methodological issues by providing an infrastructure for problem-centered, interdisciplinary discussion. At the same time, it aims to intensify the exchange between the German-speaking and international methods-communities. The following topics will be emphasized:(1) How can the multiplicity of current MMMR-conceptualizations and terminologies be integrated more fully without compromising diversity?(2) What are different approaches towards causal analysis in MMMR and what are possible avenues towards a more productive dialog between them? (3) What are current issues and developments with regard to MMMR sampling and data collection? (4) What are current problems and potentials for innovation in MMMR data analysis?(5) What are promising avenues towards practical, comprehensive quality criteria and best-practice-guidelines for MMMR?(6) What are typical barriers for communicating MMMR-results and teaching MMMR-skills and what are possible ways to reduce them? These questions will be addressed in six consecutive workshop meetings. During each meeting network-members will present papers on the respective topics which will be commented on by international expert guests. Public lectures by the invited experts will complement the program. Documentation and dissemination of workshop-results will be provided through the network website as well as through a concluding international conference organized by the network-team. Key results from the network meetings will be published in an internationally visible article collection.