Participants in the Mixed Methods Research Training Program (MMRTP) are faculty-level researchers in the health sciences in the United States. The program has seen participation from scholars across various disciplines within the health sciences, including pediatrics, psychiatry, general medicine, oncology, nursing, human development, music therapy, nutrition, psychology, and social work. The program has been conducted in both in-person and online formats, with cohorts ranging from 2015 to 2023.
The formal program activities of the MMRTP include two webinars leading up to a retreat, followed by ongoing mentorship support. The content taught in the webinars and retreat is based on a widely used textbook by Creswell and Plano Clark, along with additional readings on methodological topics and the practice of mixed methods research. The webinars focus on introducing mixed methods research and integration concepts, while the retreat provides an active workshop blending lectures, one-on-one meetings, and interactive faculty-led small workgroups.
Scholars participating in the program are matched with a mentor for one year based on their needs, career level, and area of health research. The mentors are experienced mixed methods investigators with a track record of success in obtaining independent funding for research related to the health sciences. The purpose of this mentorship arrangement is to provide scholars with different perspectives on mixed methods design and specific feedback on their research proposals.
The retreat for in-person cohorts was held over 3 days at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, with one year hosted at Harvard Medical School. Due to pandemic restrictions, the retreat activities for online cohorts were conducted via Zoom, with adaptations made based on continuous feedback from attendees. The online retreat included the same number of lecture sessions as the in-person retreat, with additional breaks and opportunities for one-on-one meetings with mentors.
Before and after the retreat, scholars complete a self-administered Mixed Methods Skills Self-Assessment instrument to assess their skills and learning goals. The instrument consists of three sections focusing on professional experiences with mixed methods, skills self-assessment, and open-ended questions about learning goals. The assessment helps track scholars‘ progress and identify areas for improvement in their mixed methods research skills.
Data analysis for the program evaluation includes a convergent mixed methods design, integrating quantitative analysis of pre- and post-retreat ratings with qualitative analysis of open-ended responses from scholars. The evaluation aims to assess the effectiveness of the program in enhancing scholars‘ mixed methods research skills and understanding their experiences and feedback from the retreat.
Overall, the MMRTP provides scholars in the health sciences with valuable training in mixed methods research, mentorship, and opportunities for professional development. The program’s structured approach, mentorship support, and evaluation strategies contribute to enhancing scholars‘ research skills and fostering a community of mixed methods researchers in the health sciences.