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Table of Contents
Half Title
Acknowledgements
Title Page
Copyright Page
Brief Contents
Detailed Contents
Analytic Contents of Research Techniques
Preface
Companion Website
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Part I Preliminary Considerations
Chapter 1 The Selection of a Research Approach
Chapter 2 Review of the Literature
Chapter 3 The Use of Theory
Chapter 4 Writing Strategies and Ethical Considerations
Part II Designing Research
Chapter 5 The Introduction
Chapter 6 The Purpose Statement
Chapter 7 Research Questions and Hypotheses
Chapter 8 Quantitative Methods
Chapter 9 Qualitative Methods
Chapter 10 Mixed Methods Procedures
Glossary
References
Author Index
Index

Research Design

Fifth Edition

I dedicate this book to all of my mentees and former students over the years who have
engaged in this fascinating process of research and who have welcomed my suggestions for
improving their scholarly works. I also welcome my son, J. David Creswell, a noted
psychologist and researcher at Carnegie Mellon University, as my coauthor.

Research Design

Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods
Approaches

Fifth Edition

• John W. Creswell
• Department of Family Medicine University of

Michigan
• J. David Creswell

• Department of Psychology Carnegie Mellon
University

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Creswell, John W., author. | Creswell, J. David, author.

Title: Research design : qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches / John W. Creswell, PhD, Department of

Family Medicine, University of Michigan, and J. David Creswell, PhD, Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon

University.

Description: Fifth edition. | Los Angeles : SAGE, [2018] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017044644 | ISBN 978-1-5063-8670-6 (pbk. : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Social sciences—Research—Methodology. | Social sciences—Statistical methods.

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Brief Contents

1. Analytic Contents of Research Techniques
2. Preface
3. Companion Website
4. Acknowledgments
5. About the Authors
6. Part I Preliminary Considerations

1. Chapter 1 The Selection of a Research Approach
2. Chapter 2 Review of the Literature
3. Chapter 3 The Use of Theory
4. Chapter 4 Writing Strategies and Ethical Considerations

7. Part II Designing Research
1. Chapter 5 The Introduction
2. Chapter 6 The Purpose Statement
3. Chapter 7 Research Questions and Hypotheses
4. Chapter 8 Quantitative Methods
5. Chapter 9 Qualitative Methods
6. Chapter 10 Mixed Methods Procedures

8. Glossary
9. References
10. Author Index
11. Subject Index

Detailed Contents

1. Analytic Contents of Research Techniques
2. Preface

1. Purpose
2. Audience
3. Format
4. Outline of Chapters

3. Companion Website
4. Acknowledgments
5. About the Authors
6. Part I Preliminary Considerations

1. Chapter 1 The Selection of a Research Approach
1. The Three Approaches to Research
2. Three Components Involved in an Approach

1. Philosophical Worldviews
1. The Postpositivist Worldview
2. The Constructivist Worldview
3. The Transformative Worldview
4. The Pragmatic Worldview

2. Research Designs
1. Quantitative Designs
2. Qualitative Designs
3. Mixed Methods Designs

3. Research Methods
3. Research Approaches as Worldviews, Designs, and Methods
4. Criteria for Selecting a Research Approach

1. The Research Problem and Questions
2. Personal Experiences
3. Audience

5. Summary
1. ▶Writing Exercises

6. Additional Readings
2. Chapter 2 Review of the Literature

1. The Research Topic
2. The Literature Review

1. The Use of the Literature
2. Design Techniques

1. Steps in Conducting a Literature Review
2. Searching Computerized Databases
3. A Priority for Selecting Literature Material
4. A Literature Map of the Research
5. Abstracting Studies

3. ▶Example 2.1. Literature Review Abstract in a Quantitative Study

4. ▶Example 2.2. Literature Review Abstract in a Study Advancing a
Typology
1. Style Manuals

5. The Definition of Terms
6. ▶Example 2.3. Terms Defined in an Independent Variables Section
7. ▶Example 2.4. Terms Defined in a Mixed Methods Dissertation
8. A Quantitative or Mixed Methods Literature Review

3. Summary
1. ▶Writing Exercises

4. Additional Readings
3. Chapter 3 The Use of Theory

1. Quantitative Theory Use
1. Testing Causal Claims in Quantitative Research
2. Variables in Quantitative Research
3. Definition of a Theory in Quantitative Research
4. Forms of Theories in Quantitative Research
5. Placement of Quantitative Theories
6. Writing a Quantitative Theoretical Perspective
7. ▶Example 3.1. A Quantitative Theory Section

2. Qualitative Theory Use
1. Variation in Theory Use in Qualitative Research
2. Locating the Theory in Qualitative Research
3. ▶Example 3.2. A Theory Early in a Qualitative Study

3. Mixed Methods Theory Use
1. ▶Example 3.3. A Theory at the End of a Qualitative Study
2. Social Science Theory Use
3. Participatory–Social Justice Theory Use
4. Box 3.1. Transformative-Emancipatory Questions for Mixed Methods

Researchers Throughout the Research Process
5. ▶Example 3.4. Theory in a Feminist Mixed Methods Study

4. Summary
1. ▶Writing Exercises

5. Additional Readings
4. Chapter 4 Writing Strategies and Ethical Considerations

1. Writing the Proposal
1. Arguments Presented in a Proposal
2. Format for a Qualitative Proposal
3. ▶Example 4.1. A Qualitative Constructivist/Interpretivist Format
4. ▶Example 4.2. A Qualitative Participatory–Social Justice Format
5. Format for a Quantitative Proposal
6. ▶Example 4.3. A Quantitative Format
7. Format for a Mixed Methods Proposal
8. ▶Example 4.4. A Mixed Methods Format
9. Designing the Sections of a Proposal

2. Writing Ideas

1. Writing as Thinking
2. The Habit of Writing
3. Readability of the Manuscript
4. ▶Example 4.5. An Illustration of the Hook-and-Eye Technique
5. Voice, Tense, and “Fat”

3. Ethical Issues to Anticipate
1. Prior to Beginning the Study
2. Beginning the Study
3. Collecting the Data
4. Analyzing the Data
5. Reporting, Sharing, and Storing Data

4. Summary
1. ▶Writing Exercises

5. Additional Readings
7. Part II Designing Research

1. Chapter 5 The Introduction
1. The Importance of Introductions
2. An Abstract for a Study
3. Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Introductions
4. A Model for an Introduction

1. An Illustration
2. The Research Problem
3. Studies Addressing the Problem
4. Deficiencies in Past Literature
5. ▶Example 5.1. Deficiencies in the Literature—Needed Studies
6. ▶Example 5.2. Deficiencies in the Literature—Few Studies
7. Significance of a Study for Audiences
8. ▶Example 5.3. Significance of the Study Stated in an Introduction to a

Quantitative Study
5. Summary

1. ▶Writing Exercises
6. Additional Readings

2. Chapter 6 The Purpose Statement
1. Significance and Meaning of a Purpose Statement

1. A Qualitative Purpose Statement
2. ▶Example 6.1. A Purpose Statement in a Qualitative Phenomenology

Study
3. ▶Example 6.2. A Purpose Statement in a Case Study
4. ▶Example 6.3. A Purpose Statement in an Ethnography
5. ▶Example 6.4. A Purpose Statement in a Grounded Theory Study
6. A Quantitative Purpose Statement
7. ▶Example 6.5. A Purpose Statement in a Published Survey Study
8. ▶Example 6.6. A Purpose Statement in a Dissertation Survey Study
9. ▶Example 6.7. A Purpose Statement in an Experimental Study
10. A Mixed Methods Purpose Statement

11. ▶Example 6.8. A Convergent Mixed Methods Purpose Statement
12. ▶Example 6.9. An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Purpose

Statement
13. ▶Example 6.10. An Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Purpose

Statement
2. Summary

1. ▶Writing Exercises
3. Additional Readings

3. Chapter 7 Research Questions and Hypotheses
1. Qualitative Research Questions

1. ▶Example 7.1. A Qualitative Central Question From an Ethnography
2. ▶Example 7.2. Qualitative Central Questions From a Case Study

2. Quantitative Research Questions and Hypotheses
1. ▶Example 7.3. A Null Hypothesis
2. ▶Example 7.4. Directional Hypotheses
3. ▶Example 7.5. Nondirectional and Directional Hypotheses
4. ▶Example 7.6. Standard Use of Language in Hypotheses
5. A Model for Descriptive Questions and Hypotheses
6. ▶Example 7.7. Descriptive and Inferential Questions

3. Mixed Methods Research Questions and Hypotheses
1. ▶Example 7.8. Hypotheses and Research Questions in a Mixed

Methods Study
2. ▶Example 7.9. A Mixed Methods Question Written Using Methods and

Content Language
4. Summary

1. ▶Writing Exercises
5. Additional Readings

4. Chapter 8 Quantitative Methods
1. Defining Surveys and Experiments
2. Components of a Survey Study Method Plan

1. The Survey Design
2. The Population and Sample
3. Instrumentation
4. Variables in the Study
5. Data Analysis
6. Interpreting Results and Writing a Discussion Section
7. ▶Example 8.1. A Survey Method Plan

3. Components of an Experimental Study Method Plan
1. Participants
2. Variables
3. Instrumentation and Materials
4. Experimental Procedures
5. ▶Example 8.2. Pre-experimental Designs
6. ▶Example 8.3. Quasi-experimental Designs
7. ▶Example 8.4. True Experimental Designs

8. ▶Example 8.5. Single-Subject Designs
9. Threats to Validity
10. The Procedure
11. Data Analysis
12. Interpreting Results and Writing a Discussion Section
13. ▶Example 8.6. An Experimental Method Plan

4. Summary
1. ▶Writing Exercises

5. Additional Readings
5. Chapter 9 Qualitative Methods

1. The Characteristics of Qualitative Research
2. Qualitative Designs
3. The Researcher’s Role and Reflexivity
4. Data Collection Procedures
5. Data Recording Procedures
6. Data Analysis Procedures
7. Interpretation
8. Validity and Reliability
9. Writing the Qualitative Report

1. ▶Example 9.1. Qualitative Procedures
10. Summary

1. ▶Writing Exercises
11. Additional Readings

6. Chapter 10 Mixed Methods Procedures
1. Components of Mixed Methods Procedures

1. Describe Mixed Methods Research
2. Types of Mixed Methods Designs

1. Convergent Mixed Methods Design
2. Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Design
3. Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Design
4. Several Complex Mixed Methods Designs

3. A Procedure for Embedding Core Designs Into Complex Designs
4. Factors Important in Choosing a Mixed Methods Design
5. Examples of Mixed Methods Procedures

1. ▶Example 10.1. A Convergent Parallel Mixed Methods Design
2. ▶Example 10.2. An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Design
3. ▶Example 10.3. An Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Design
4. ▶Example 10.4. A Social Justice Design

6. Summary
1. ▶Writing Exercises

7. Additional Readings
8. Glossary
9. References
10. Author Index
11. Subject Index

Analytic Contents of Research Techniques

Chapter 1. The Selection of a Research Approach

• Determining your research approach
• Identifying a worldview with which you are most comfortable
• Defining the three types of research approaches
• Using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods designs and methods

Chapter 2. Review of the Literature

• Assessing whether your topic is researchable
• Using steps in conducting a literature review
• Using computerized databases available for reviewing the literature
• Developing a priority for types of literature to review
• Designing a literature map
• Writing a good abstract of a research study
• Using important elements of a style manual
• Defining terms
• Employing a model for writing a literature review

Chapter 3. The Use of Theory

• Testing causal claims in quantitative research
• Identifying variables in a quantitative study
• Defining the nature of a quantitative theory
• Using a script to write a theoretical perspective into a quantitative study
• Considering the types of theories used in qualitative research
• Placing theories in a qualitative study
• Placing a theoretical lens into a mixed methods study

Chapter 4. Writing Strategies and Ethical
Considerations

• Assessing the structure of a proposal for qualitative, quantitative, and mixed
methods studies

• Using writing strategies for drafting a proposal
• Developing a habit of writing
• Constructing umbrella thoughts, big thoughts, little thoughts, and attention

thoughts in writing
• Developing writing consistency through the hook-and-eye technique
• Using principles of writing good prose
• Anticipating ethical issues in many phases of the research process

Chapter 5. The Introduction

• Writing an abstract for a study
• Exploring differences among quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods

introductions
• Using the deficiency model for writing an introduction
• Designing a good narrative hook
• Writing about the research problem
• Summarizing the literature about a research problem
• Pointing out deficiencies in past literature
• Considering audiences that may profit from your study

Chapter 6. The Purpose Statement

• Using a script for writing a qualitative purpose statement
• Considering how the script would change depending on your qualitative design
• Using a script for writing a quantitative purpose statement
• Considering how the script would change depending on your quantitative design
• Using a script for writing a mixed methods purpose statement
• Considering how the script would change depending on your mixed methods

design

Chapter 7. Research Questions and Hypotheses

• Writing a script for a qualitative central question
• Considering how this script would change depending on the qualitative design
• Writing a script for quantitative research questions and hypotheses
• Considering how this script would change depending on the quantitative design

and the different types of hypotheses
• Using a model for descriptive and inferential quantitative questions and

hypotheses
• Writing scripts for different forms of research questions for a mixed methods

study

Chapter 8. Quantitative Methods

• Using a checklist for survey research to form topic sections of a survey procedure
• Employing steps in analyzing data for a survey procedure
• Writing a complete survey methods discussion
• Using a checklist for experimental research to form sections for an experimental

procedure
• Identifying the type of experimental procedure that best fits your proposed study
• Drawing a diagram of experimental procedures
• Identifying the potential internal validity and external validity threats to your

proposed study

Chapter 9. Qualitative Methods

• Using a checklist for qualitative research to form topic sections of a procedure
• Stating the basic characteristics of qualitative research
• Determining how reflexivity will be included in a proposed study
• Weighing the different types of data collected in qualitative research
• Employing steps in the qualitative data analysis process
• Establishing validity in qualitative research

Chapter 10. Mixed Methods Procedures

• Stating a definition and the characteristics of mixed methods research
• Using a convergent mixed methods design
• Using an explanatory sequential mixed methods design
• Employing an exploratory sequential mixed methods design
• Using one of the complex mixed methods designs
• Choosing which design is best for a mixed methods study

Preface

Purpose

This book advances a framework, a process, and compositional approaches for designing a
proposal or research project for qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research in
the human, health, and social sciences. The ascendency of qualitative research, the
emergence of mixed methods approaches, and the growth of quantitative designs have
created a need for this book’s unique comparison of the three approaches to inquiry. This
comparison begins with preliminary consideration of philosophical assumptions for all
three approaches, a review of the literature, an assessment of the use of theory and
conceptual frameworks in research approaches, and reflections about the importance of
writing and ethics in scholarly inquiry. The book then addresses the key elements in the
process of designing and conducting a research project: writing an introduction; stating a
purpose or research aims for the study; identifying research questions and hypotheses; and
advancing methods and procedures for data collection, analysis, and interpretation. At each
step in this process, the reader is taken through qualitative, quantitative, and mixed
methods approaches.

Audience

This book is intended for students and faculty who seek assistance in preparing a plan,
proposal, or research project for a scholarly journal article, a dissertation, a thesis, or an
application for funding. At a broader level, the book may be useful as both a reference book
and a textbook for courses in research methods. To best take advantage of the design
features in this book, the reader needs a basic familiarity with qualitative and quantitative
research; however, terms will be explained and defined and recommended strategies
advanced for those needing introductory assistance in the design process. Highlighted
terms in the text and a glossary of the terms at the back of the book provide a working
language for understanding research. This book also is intended for a broad audience in the
human, health, and social sciences. Readers’ comments from the past four editions suggest
that individuals using the book come from many disciplines and fields. We hope that
researchers in fields such as marketing, management, criminal justice, communication
studies, psychology, sociology, K–12 education, higher and postsecondary education,
nursing, family medicine, health services research, global health, behavioral health, urban
studies, family research, and other fields of study will find this fifth edition useful.

Format

In each chapter, we share examples drawn from varied disciplines. These examples are
drawn from books, journal articles, dissertation proposals, and dissertations. Though our
primary specialization is in educational psychology, the health sciences, and in psychology,
the illustrations are intended to be inclusive of many fields. They reflect issues in social
justice and examples of studies with marginalized individuals in our society as well as the
traditional samples and populations studied by researchers. Inclusiveness also extends to
methodological pluralism in research today, and the discussion incorporates alternative
philosophical ideas, diverse modes of inquiry, and numerous procedures.

This book is not a detailed method text; instead, we highlight the essential features of
research design. We have attempted to reduce research to its essential core ideas so that
researchers can plan a thorough and thoughtful study. The coverage of research designs is
limited to frequently used forms: surveys and experiments in quantitative research;
narrative research, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, and case studies in
qualitative research; and convergent, explanatory sequential, and exploratory sequential
designs in mixed methods research. Although students preparing a dissertation proposal
should find this book helpful, topics related to the politics of presenting and negotiating a
study with review committees are addressed thoroughly in other texts.

Consistent with accepted conventions of scholarly writing, we have tried to eliminate any
words or examples that convey a discriminatory (e.g., sexist or ethnic) orientation.
Examples were selected to provide a full range of gender and cultural orientations.
Throughout the text we do not favor either qualitative or quantitative research. Indeed, we
have intentionally altered the of qualitative and quantitative examples throughout
the book. Readers should also note that in the longer examples cited in this book, many
references are made to other writings. Only the reference to the work we use in the
illustration will be cited, not the entire list of references embedded within any particular
example. As with earlier editions, we have maintained features to enhance the readability
and understandability of the material: bullets to emphasize key points, numbered points to
stress key steps in a process, and longer examples of complete passages with annotations
to highlight key research ideas that are being conveyed by the authors.

In this fifth edition of the book, new features have been added in response to developments
in research and reader feedback:

• In this edition, we shape the discussion not only around designing a proposal for
a research project but also around the steps in designing a research study. Thus,
the emphasis on designing a research study (as opposed to focusing only on a
proposal) is slightly larger for this edition than in past editions.

• We have added more information about the epistemological and ontological
assumptions as they relate to research questions and methods.

• In the worldview section, we now include more on the transformative worldview.

• In the methods discussion, we have added more on specific approaches such as
case studies, participatory action research, and visual methods in qualitative
research.

• Also in the qualitative methods, we have added information about social media
and online qualitative methods. Also, we have added more information on
memoing and on reflexivity.

• In the mixed methods, we now incorporate information about action research
(participatory research) and program evaluation.

• In the respective methods chapters, we have included more on qualitative and
quantitative data analysis software.

• In the theory section, we have added information about causality, and then
incorporated its relationship to statistics in the quantitative methods.

• For our quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods sections, we have
incorporated sections on writing discussion sections into each of these
methodologies.

• We have incorporated new information into all of our methods chapters—
quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. Our mixed methods chapter now
reflects the latest advances in the field.

• Throughout the book, we have cited updated editions of research methods books
that have emerged since the last edition and added current references and
additional readings.

Outline of Chapters

This book is divided into two parts. Part I consist of steps that researchers need to consider
before they develop their proposals or plans for research. Part II discusses the various
sections used to develop a scholarly research proposal for a thesis, dissertation, or a
research report.

Part I. Preliminary Considerations

This part of the book discusses preparing for the design of a scholarly study. It contains
Chapters 1 through 4.

Chapter 1. The Selection of a Research Approach

In this chapter, we begin by defining quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods
approaches. We then discuss how philosophy, designs, and methods intersect when one
uses one of these approaches. We review different philosophical stances; advanced types of
qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods designs; and then discuss the methods
associated with each design. We also consider the factors that go into the choice of an
approach to research. Thus, this chapter should help proposal developers decide whether a
qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods approach is suitable for their proposed
research project.

Chapter 2. Review of the Literature

It is important to extensively review the literature on your topic before you design your
proposal. Thus, you need to begin with a researchable topic and then explore the literature
using the steps advanced in this chapter. This calls for setting a priority for selecting
material from the literature, drawing a visual map of studies that relate to your topic,
writing good abstracts, employing skills learned from using style manuals, and defining key
terms. This chapter should help researchers thoughtfully consider relevant literature on
their topics and start compiling and writing literature reviews.

Chapter 3. The Use of Theory

Theories serve different purposes in the three approaches inquiry. In quantitative research,
they provide a proposed explanation for the relationship among variables being tested by
the investigator. In qualitative research, they may often serve as a lens for the inquiry or
they may be generated during the study. In mixed methods studies, researchers employ
them in many ways, including those associated with quantitative and qualitative
approaches. This chapter helps researchers consider and plan how theory might be
incorporated into their studies.

Chapter 4. Writing Strategies and Ethical Considerations

It is helpful to have an overall outline of the topics to be included in a proposal or research
study before you begin writing. Thus, this chapter begins with different outlines for writing
proposals. The outlines can be used as models depending on whether your proposed study
is qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods. Then we convey several ideas about the
actual writing of the proposal, such as developing a habit of writing, and grammar ideas

that have been helpful to us in improving our scholarly writing. Finally, we turn to ethical
issues and discuss these not as abstract ideas, but as considerations that need to be
anticipated in multiple phases of the research process.

Part II. Designing Research

In Part II, we turn to the components of designing the research proposal. Chapters 5
through 10 address steps in this process.

Chapter 5. The Introduction

It is important to properly introduce a research study. We provide a model for writing a
good scholarly introduction to your proposal. The chapter begins with designing an
abstract for a study. This is followed by developing an introduction to include identifying
the research problem or issue, framing this problem within the existing literature, pointing
out deficiencies in the literature, and targeting the study for an audience. This chapter
provides a systematic method for designing a scholarly introduction to a proposal or study.

Chapter 6. The Purpose Statement

At the beginning of research proposals or projects, authors mention the central purpose or
intent of the study. This passage is the most important statement in the entire research
process, and an entire chapter is devoted to this topic. In this chapter, you learn how to
write this statement for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies, and you will
be provided with scripts that help you design and write these statements.

Chapter 7. Research Questions and Hypotheses

The questions and hypotheses addressed by the researcher serve to narrow and focus the
purpose of the study. As a major signpost in a …