Under this section the author locates the chosen research design within the framework of two philosophical orientations. Given that the current study adopts a mixed-method design, to be discussed next, two philosophical assumptions, –post-positivism and symbolic
interactionism, were chosen to provide a rationale for the use of this methodology. Post- positivism was adopted to satisfy the need to ascertain the statistical relations among variables, while symbolic interactionism was adopted to explain the need to understand participants’ subjective experiences. These philosophical assumptions are discussed in depth below.
3.2.1. Mixed-method research
A sequential explanatory mixed-method design was adopted in the present study, which included the gathering and analysis of quantitative data (first phase), followed by the collection and analysis of qualitative data (second phase; Creswell, 2009). The second phase of the study was designed to build on the findings of the first phase of the study. When researchers use the sequential explanatory mixed-method design, they usually intend to give more weight and priority to the quantitative phase, and the mixing of the data occurs when the quantitative data informs the qualitative data (Creswell, 2009). Given that the major aim of the current study is to test a hypothesised model of relationships among variables, the quantitative phase was given more weight than the qualitative phase. Mixing of the data
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occurred, when purposefully selected participants were interviewed with the aim of gathering qualitative data that could explain some of the significant relationships that were found in the hypothesised model. For example, the qualitative question exploring what makes learners satisfied in life could have provided further insight into why the structural path connecting perceived social support to life satisfaction was significant. It must, however, be mentioned that the qualitative phase was unable to adequately explain the full model, but it provided some understanding of the relationships observed. The shortcomings of both methods necessitated the use of a mixed-method design so that each phase would complement the limitations of the other.
Since the current study was a burgeoning area of study among adolescents in the Northern region of Ghana, it was necessary to explore mental health using a research design that would provide comprehensive information on this area. The mixed-method design also provided the opportunity to achieve the different aims of the study (Bryman, 2012), which included understanding the relationship among variables and exploring the subjective experience of these variables.
Apart from the type of mixed-method design, other issues must be considered when conducting a mixed-method research. According to Creswell and Plano Clark (2011) choosing mixed-method of research can either be determined prior to going to the field or it can emerge as the research process continues. The present study employed a fixed-method design, which according to Creswell and Plano Clark (2011), involves the decision to adopt both quantitative and qualitative methods at the onset of the research. Green (2007) describes that it is also important to state the level of interaction for a mixed-method research design. In this study the quantitative and qualitative phases were independent and were put together only to draw conclusions for the overall interpretation of the study.
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Despite the benefits of the mixed-method of research, this method is not without its criticisms, chief among which is the possibility of the method posing some technical difficulties. These difficulties include deciding which phase has more weight, the timing, having the prerequisite skills, as well as the financial and time constraints ( Creswell, 2009; Morgan, 2006). Additionally, mixed-method research tends to be anchored on separate
philosophical assumptions that some experts might consider as mutually incompatible; that is, the combination of positivist orientations with constructionist perspectives (Morgan, 2006). As already explained, the philosophical assumptions combined in this study are
complimentary in as much as they provide different explanations for the two phases of the study. Symbolic interactionism as a paradigm enabled the researcher to locate the quantitative findings within the subjective experience of the participants. It provided a context for
understanding and conceptualising the relationships found in the study. 3.2.2. Post-positivist assumptions
For the quantitative strand, post-positivist assumptions were used as the underlying philosophical assumption. Post-positivist assumptions were developed as a response to the notion that it was difficult for social scientists to be totally indifferent while conducting research, and this paradigm concerns itself with some of the tenets of positivism such as reliability, validity, generalisability and quantification. It is also described as a philosophical assumption that emphasises the objective measurement of social issues (Hennink, Hutter, & Bailey, 2011). Apart from these, post-positivist researchers are interested in ensuring that the tools for conducting research are properly suited for the phenomena being studied (Crook & Garrat, 2011). Additionally, consideration of the context of the research is necessary in order to determine to what extent they may predict events in other but similar contexts. Similarly, Creswell (2009) describes post-positivist assumptions as those presuppositions that
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Essentially, post-positivism aligns itself with a need for a quantitative objective
representation of social phenomena. Hypothesis testing and the use of theory also underlie this epistemological orientation to research.
Post-positivist assumptions espouse that the standards for reliability and validity of research findings is determined by the tools for collecting the data, moreover, these tools must be transparent, and the data gathered must be adequately managed (Crook & Garrat, 2011). As compared to pure positivism, the researcher must also foster a healthy relationship between himself or herself and those being researched.
This methodological positioning was particularly influential in the current study because of the use of the mixed-method of research. The combination of both quantitative and qualitative measures required that the researcher used tools that would produce valid data on the phenomena of study, and at the same time ensure the establishment of a working relationship with the research participants. In addition, post-positivism was chosen as the philosophical assumption underpinning the present study because of the precedence given to the quantitative aspects, and the use of instruments for measuring variables and assessing statistical results (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2011). Moreover, other requirements such as generalisability, adequate data management and the negotiation of meanings were relevant in the process of data collection and analysis. For instance, it was important to manage both the quantitative data and qualitative data using data management files and analysis tools such as the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS) and ATLAS-ti (Muhr, 1991).
Although, a post-positivist orientation underlies mixed-method research, Creswell and Plano Clark (2011) recommend that a different orientation should form the basis of the qualitative aspect of the study.
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The qualitative strand of the present study was driven by interactionist assumptions. Interactionists emphasise that “meanings” are derived from social interactions, modified through the interpretive process adopted by the researcher and synthesised into knowledge of the construct being studied (Blumer, 1969; Crotty, 1998). Relatedly, symbolic interactionism stems from interpretive traditions that are concerned with understanding social phenomena from the experience of those involved and gathering information on the subjective
interpretations that are attached to individual experiences (Hennink et al., 2011). The interpretive approach emphasises a socially constructed reality because individual actions take place within social, cultural and historical contexts (Hennink et al., 2011). Knowledge is thought to emerge from the meanings participants produce and reproduce as they constantly interact with each other (Blaikie, 2010). This approach emphasises putting oneself in the position of those being studied and understanding reality from their perspective (Crotty, 1998).
Symbolic interactionism was adopted as an epistemological position because the researcher was interested in understanding aspects of mental health (hope, perceived social support and life satisfaction) from the participants’ perspective. It was not enough to observe the structured relationships among variables without understanding the interpretations of these constructs from the perspective of those being studied. This was particularly important since the phenomena being studied were relatively new to the context of the research. The qualitative phase of the current study was focussed on eliciting interpretations that
adolescents attached to the constructs under study and how these constructs were engendered. The research process was regarded as a form of interaction, where participants were allowed to describe the constructs under study based on their experience and personalised
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individual’s context on the experience of hope, perceived social support and life satisfaction, which could not be demonstrated using quantitative methods.
The use of a mixed-method design enabled triangulation, providing the researcher an opportunity to investigate a problem from different perspectives (quantitative or qualitative) (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2011; Plowright, 2011). Additionally, the different sources of information increased the validity of the study. This was particularly important in the context of the current research where measurement scales that were developed in the West were used. Given the importance of context for qualitative studies, a brief discussion of the physical and social setting where this research took place is presented below.