About the Course
Mixed methods research integrates quantitative and qualitative data and present them meaningfully for application in the social service sector. It explores issues like social problems and provides a more wholistic understanding of the issues. It also helps workers that run programmes for clients.
For example, mixed methods research can be done pre-programme to help understand the problem that the programme is trying to address. It can be adopted in programme evaluation to understand whether a programme works, how it works, and the clients' experience in the programme, etc.
This course aims to provide workers in the social service sector with an overview of the core designs and the main ways in which data can be mixed and presented meaningfully in mixed methods research. Mixed methods research explores social issues more wholistically. It can be used in different types of social service research including evidence syntheses, needs assessments and programme evaluations.
Through the course, learners will gain knowledge of what mixed methods research is, the core mixed methods designs, and ways to integrate quantitative and qualitative data meaningfully. These knowledge will in turn enable them to demonstrate how the mixed methods approach can be adopted in social service research to inform their practice, such as conducting mixed methods primary research and mixed methods evaluations.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, learners will be able to:
Conduct a mixed methods research.
Apply mixed methods research in social services.
Who Should Attend
Social service professionals, researchers, all who are interested in learning about mixed methods research.
Award
Participants who meet 75% class attendance will be awarded a Certificate of Achievement by the Academy of Human Development and Social Service Institute.
Your Trainer
Mr Lim Wei Loong
Lim Wei Loong is a full-time researcher at Fei Yue Community Services, where he is actively involved in supporting the utilisation of research to inform practice and conducing research and programme evaluation trainings for Fei Yue’s researchers and practitioners. Having had more than ten years of experience conducting research in the practice context, Wei Loong understands the challenges social service agencies faced when utilising and conducting research. This has enabled him to deliver research trainings that are practice-based and responsive to realities on the ground.
Wei Loong holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Melbourne, a Master of Philosophy in Social and Developmental Psychology from the University of Cambridge, a Graduate Diploma of Social Sciences (Professional Counselling) from Swinburne University, and a Master of Science in Evidence Based Health Care from the University of Oxford. He is the recipient of the 2021 Gillian Nicholls Prize for an outstanding dissertation in the subject of evidence-based healthcare awarded by the University of Oxford’s Kellogg College. Wei Loong has also completed the WSQ Advanced Certificate in Learning and Performance (ACLP) and is currently pursuing his PhD at the Singapore University of Social Sciences.
Wei Loong currently holds associate positions at various local Institutes of Higher Learning. He has also taught developmental psychology and social programme evaluation for other Academy of Human Development courses. Besides, Wei Loong also serves as a member of the Agency of Integrated Care’s Institutional Review Board (IRB).
Testimonials
Anonyous, 1st intake
I really like how Wei Loong gave many examples on the core designs, sampling, results presentations (e.g. joint display table). These examples really helped me to better understand the concepts taught.
Anonymous, 1st intake
The course was highly relavant to my work in the social sector and the trainer encouraged us to think of how it applies to our work.
Anonymous, 1st intake
I like how its a quick and comprehensive introduction to mixed research methods. Wei Loong is an amazing trainer!
