Social and Community Development The Issue of Teenage Pregnancy in the UK Free Essay Example, 2500 words

A mixed methods research design involves the collection and merging of both quantitative and qualitative data for optimum reliability in the research results (Creswell and Clark, 2011). When a mixed methods research design is used, the strengths of one data set will often offset and complement the weaknesses and strengths of the other data set. For example, quantitative data usually involves the collection of measurable statistical data from a relatively large population sample and therefore involves close-ended instruments such as surveys and questionnaires (Creswell and Clark, 2011). Qualitative data on the other hand usually involve the collection of data from small population sample sizes through open-ended instruments such as interviews. This data is usually detailed and thus compensates for the lack of detail in quantitative data. Likewise, the large sample size in quantitative data compensates for the small sample size used in qualitative data (Creswell and Clark, 2011). Th e proposed research will benefit from the complimentary and compensative nature of using both quantitative and qualitative data through the use of surveys and interviews. Sampling A snowball sampling technique will be used for identifying participants for the proposed research. A snowball sampling technique involves contacting a potential subject and identifying other possible participants through that contact and so on until the appropriate participants have been identified (Lewis-Beck, et al. , 2004). The snowball sampling technique is especially useful for identifying socially occluded or concealed populations (Lewis-Beck, et al. , 2004). Since teenage pregnancy is a private and personal issue, snowball sampling is appropriate for identifying potential participants in the study. We will write a custom essay sample on Social and Community Development: The Issue of Teenage Pregnancy in the UK or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page