How to Write a Discussion Chapter Using Mixed Method Approach

Writing a discussion chapter of a dissertation using a mixed method approach is pretty similar to writing a quantitative method. However, one thing you need to take care of is keeping your interpretations of the findings aligned with the gathered data. The interpretations must not move away or go beyond your data. 

Integrating both quantitative and qualitative research methodology into discussion chapters should demonstrate how it increases the depth and understanding of the topic. You can use qualitative findings to build context for the quantitative findings while using a mixed-method approach. 

You can also compare the qualitative research data with quantitative findings to demonstrate how existing literature confirms your results. While using the mixed method approach, you should strategise or outline how your data will be integrated into the discussion section. Are you confused about how you can do this? Let The Academic Papers UK guide you step by step. 

What Is the Discussion Chapter of a Dissertation?

The discussion chapter of a dissertation is the section where you discuss your research objectives, your methodology, and the findings of your research. The purpose of a discussion chapter is to interpret the findings in relation to existing literature and present its implementations and limitations. 

Things you should cover in the discussion section:

1. Research question and objectives
2. Quantitative findings and their interpretations 
3. Qualitative results
4. Convergence and divergence of the findings
5. Holistic interpretations and limitations of the study
6. Practical application/ implementations 
7. Suggest future research directions 

Steps to Write a Discussion Chapter With a Mixed Method Approach

While writing the discussion section using mixed methods, you should always maintain the logical flow and coherence of the chapter. Many students try to give both methodologies equal weightage or word count; this is not a best practice. 

Instead, you should structure your discussion chapter with things you need to cover, including the existing literature, findings, implementations, limitations, etc. 

This way, you will be able to utilise a more structured approach to complete the discussion chapter of your dissertation. Whether you are writing a PhD, Undergraduate, or Masters dissertation, the things you will cover will depend on your subject and word count. 

Here are some simple steps to strategise your writing process:

1. Restate the Research Questions and Objectives

While writing your dissertation’s discussion chapter, start by restating the research question and objectives. If you have fewer word counts, you can choose one of them to mention. This will not only remind the reader of your research purpose but also contextualise the rest of the section to what you are going to discuss. 

2. Present the Quantitative Findings

The findings you obtained using the quantitative research method will be presented right after the research questions and objectives are answered. You can add a subsection to present the quantitative findings and summarise them. 

To present those static results, you can use graphs, tables, and other graphics like charts as per requirement. After presenting the quantitative findings, provide an interpretation of the results and describe how your findings relate to your research question. 

3. Interpret the Quantitative Findings

Interpret the results and describe what they mean in relation to your hypothesis and research question. Just like any other discussion section of a quantitative method, do not bother about or see this section in relation to any other chapter. Think like you are writing the section for quantitative method research. 

Also, describe the implications and insights of your findings in the context of your topic, research question, and their interpretation. Consider describing the limitations of your study along with unexpected or surprising results. Also, inform the reader how your results meet your expectations and why not. 

4. Integrate the Qualitative Findings

Add a subsection to the discussion chapter. This section will describe all the qualitative research findings you got from the second method. The qualitative method usually involves a literature review and analysis of other existing sources about topics like dissertations and research papers. 

Qualitative findings can also be based on survey and questionnaire results, depending upon the method you chose for gathering the data. Selecting surveys, focus groups, questionnaires, or interviews as your data collection methods will give you the latest and freshest data on the topic. On the other hand, a literature review provides you with some old data. This choice depends on your study area and research purpose. 

You can present the major patterns, themes, and ideas you detected during the analysis. You should also provide insights on how the existing information endorses your qualitative findings. As evidence, you can use excerpts from different interviews. 

5. Discuss the Convergence and Divergence

Convergence means similarity, or in other words, how the findings of qualitative and quantitative research share the same opinion. At the same time, divergence means differences between the findings of both methods and how they oppose the research question. 

You can add a subsection that describes all the convergences (how these results support the same conclusions) and divergences (how they share the opposite opinion) among the results. 

Consult with one of our 650+ PhD Experts.

Ready to elevate your dissertation game? Let our experts do the heavy lifting!

AI lacks the depth your degree requires. Our human experts deliver tailored research and authentic academic insights.

Consult with an Expert, It's free

6. Provide a Holistic Interpretation

Nobody minds if you add another sub-section to conclude the interpretations of the results and provide compact insights on them. Although you already have discussed the divergence and convergence of the findings, providing an overview of holistic interpretation is worth it. 

This section will describe the data gathered through both methods and complement and support the conclusion. How do these results understand the research question? Describe any unique perspectives qualitative or quantitative findings bring to your research. 

7. Address Study Limitations

Just like the quantitative research discussion section, the mixed methods discussion section will also include the study limitations (if any). While adding the limitations of your research will show your awareness of the shortcomings, it will also build your credibility as a researcher. 

If you think, because of any shortage of resources, time, or budget, there are some shortcomings left in the topic that may require further research, you should not hide them. Instead, highlighting them will showcase your reliability and awareness. 

8. Implications and Practical Significance

To showcase the significance and importance of your research, you need to discuss the implications and how these findings contribute to practical execution. Implications will basically highlight the impacts of your research on your study area, future studies, and decision-making. 

Practical significance will explore the practical application of your findings. For example, if you are writing a research paper in the medical field, how will your research change the process of medicine formation or its usage? 

9. Future Research Directions

To describe the future directions the research might take in a certain study area, you should highlight the questions you were unable to answer and can be answered in future research. You can also suggest the research methods to get those answers. 

Highlight the areas within the topic that require further exploration. You can also mention your research's limitations and describe its potential in relation to them. 

Best Practices for Writing the Discussion Chapter

Here are some best practices you should follow while writing the discussion section of your mixed methods research paper:

1. Keep your arguments data-based (the one you presented in the findings chapter)
2. Presenting the qualitative research, properly cite the relevant literature which supports your arguments. 
3. Don’t fluctuate from the data or evidence in the arguments (avoid personal opinions)
4. Compare your findings with existing knowledge to confirm the similarities and differences.
5. Dedicate two or more paragraphs to presenting the implications of your research. 
6. Before writing the discussion section, always make an outline and plan your chapter. 

Conclusion

To summarise the topic, writing a discussion section using the mixed method approach is not that difficult. If you utilise a strategic approach and attempt it with a clear mind and planning, you should be able to write it perfectly. The overall goal of a discussion section following the mixed methods should be to highlight how both qualitative and quantitative methods enhance the depth of analysis. 

This chapter will prove why your selection of research methodology was right and does not overcomplicate the process or understanding. It also highlights your work's contributions to the field. 

In this article, we have provided 9 steps to writing a perfect discussion chapter using the mixed methods approach. We have also provided a roadmap to maintain the section's coherence and write it strategically. We hope that after reading this article, you will be able to write a comprehensive discussion chapter. 

Ready to elevate your essay game? Let our experts do the heavy lifting!

We have most qualified and experienced writers in our team who have years of experience in academic writing. Choose your preferred writer that matches with your subject area. You can also ask our customer support team to allocate the best writer from our team.

Help Me Secure A+ Get a Free Consultation Call