Summary: Agile Methods --> W-I-P

New Mixed Methods Approach: Quant-Qual-Transformative Methods

In real-life situations the center of gravity / main focus of research may change, depending on the changing circumstances in which the research is embedded. The purpose of the illustrations below is to capture / illustrate the dynamic relations and interactions between the quantitative, qualitative and transformative research approaches. The triadic depiction, in particular, suggests that although the center of gravity / main focus of a research project may shift predominantly to any one of the three corners of the triad, this need not happen in a manner which severs its linkages / connections with the dynamics / aspects in the other two corners. As part of a triadic framework they can always remain connected to each other.

NB Note: it is important to see the triadic depiction below as a decision-making framework rather than a model - frameworks are essentially sense-making and decision-making heuristics when working with many different and differing perspectives. Models, on the other hand, tend to make very strong ontological claims of accurately representing the structure of reality - the double helix model in molecular biology is probably one of the best examples in this regard - positing a very precise / accurate depiction of the DNA structure of all life on Earth as we know it. To be sure, the triadic framework below has no such ontological ambitions / intentions - it makes no claims to be 'representing' the internal structure and dynamics inherent in ALL research. On the contrary, it has a much more restricted purpose: i.e. merely to bring some coherency in/to our methodological sense-making and decision-making endeavours when facing ever-changing contexts - warranting real-time shifts in our research foci and methodological decision-making - without taking our eyes off the other balls in the air, as it were (depicted by juggling stick-figures below) - in other words, running the risk of losing sight of the other foci which occupied our attention prior to and during the process of switching methodologies is a real prospect - something we need to increase our awareness of and even anticipating (in other words, anticipatory awareness and methodological agility go hand in hand).

Underpinning this move, of bringing transformative methods into the discourse on the theory and practice of methodology from the onset, is merely to ensure an appropriate methodological response to continuously engaging with the next step question (as already mentioned on the Home page) of figuring out what is both plausible and desirable in the present. To be sure, methods in and of themselves are not sufficient for ensuring that the transformative need for social change will remain in focus in research, but they surely are critically important when discussing the details of how knowledge can / may contribute to bringing about social change. Therefore, by including transformative methods into a triadic suite methods, an important methodological move to made to ensure that the quest for methodological agility remains connected to the broader / deeper question of transformative social change (see Agile methods page)

- for retaining and even strengthening during and after the process of methodological switching - rather than being overlooked and discarded with.

NB: abductive reasoning / logic for working with different quant + qual + transf methods at the same time, because not pursuing to producing 'the truth' via hypothesis-testing