Overview

ISBN 978-1-921348-10-5  ~  iv+96 pages  ~  Publishing April 2010

Editors:

Nancy L Leech
University of Colorado, USA

Anthony Onwuegbuzie
Sam Houston State University, USA

Thomas Hansson
University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

Priscilla Robinson
La Trobe University, Australia

As all teachers in all times and all places know, the challenges of teaching are second only to the challenges of parenting; both are uniquely dedicated to the cultivation of learners' minds, passions, and sensibilities.

Teaching about ideas and endeavors presents additional challenges, as the substance being taught is itself unsettled and unfinished. Notably, the teacher must provide a clear and strong framework for the material of the course, yet simultaneously question and critique this framework and encourage learners to do the same. Creating a safe environment in which such critical learning can take place is a particular responsibility of teachers at the frontiers of knowledge and action.

So it is with the teaching of mixed methods approaches to social inquiry. The field of mixing methods is a new field in terms of conceptualization and theory development. There has been a lack of mixed methods exemplars and mentors.

This special issue of the International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches engages the challenges of teaching mixed methods.The five papers included span a wide range of mixed methods teaching contexts and issues, including:

• Teaching strategies
• Conceptual papers on teaching mixed methods courses
• Effective approaches to teaching students mixed methodology concepts and applications
• Case studies

The special issue aims to communicate best practices for teaching mixed methodology research courses for both beginning and seasoned instructors. Papers are based on the experience, innovations and applications of teachers of mixed methodology courses, with a goal of disseminating pedagogical knowledge to other instructors and as such is important reading.

Table of Contents

2-5 Foreword: Beginning the conversation
Jennifer C Greene
6-8 Introduction: Crafting significant learning experiences in the context of teaching mixed methodologies
Kathleen MT Collins
9-18 Philosophy in mixed methods teaching: The transformative paradigm as illustration
Donna M Mertens
49-65 Teaching multi-methodology research courses to doctoral students
Mette Baran
28-39 Utilizing mixed methods in teaching environments to reduce statistics anxiety
Anthony J Onwuegbuzie, Nancy L Leech, Mari Murtonen, Juhani Tähtinen
40-48 Program implementation in health services
Johan Hansson
49-65 Teaching and learning mixed methods research in computer-mediated environment: Educational gains and challenges
Nataliya V Ivankova
66-72 Conclusion: On hammers, nails and building sites - teaching mixed methods
Priscilla Robinson
73 Epilogue: The journey: From where we started to where we hope to go
Nancy L Leech, Anthony J Onwuegbuzie