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Qualitative Health Research
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Multidisciplinary, Interdisciplinary, or Dysfunctional? Team Working in Mixed-Methods Research

Alicia O'Cathain

University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

Elizabeth Murphy

University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom

Jon Nicholl

University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

Combining qualitative and quantitative methods in a single study—otherwise known as mixed-methods research—is common. In health research these projects can be delivered by research teams. A typical scenario, for example, involves medical sociologists delivering qualitative components and researchers from medicine or health economics delivering quantitative components. We undertook semistructured interviews with 20 researchers who had worked on mixed-methods studies in health services research to explore the facilitators of and barriers to exploiting the potential of this approach. Team working emerged as a key issue, with three models of team working apparent: multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and dysfunctional. Interdisciplinary research was associated with integration of data or findings from the qualitative and quantitative components in both the final reports and the peer-reviewed publications. Methodological respect between team members and a principal investigator who valued integration emerged as essential to achieving integrated research outcomes.

Key Words: interviews • semistructured • mixed methods • research • interdisciplinary

Qualitative Health Research, Vol. 18, No. 11, 1574-1585 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1049732308325535
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