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Qualitative Health Research, Vol. 18, No. 2, 280-293 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1049732307312392
© 2008 SAGE Publications

Spiraling Between Qualitative and Quantitative Data on Women's Health Behaviors: A Double Helix Model for Mixed Methods

Sheryl Mendlinger

Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, sherylm{at}bu.edu

Julie Cwikel

Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel

A double helix spiral model is presented which demonstrates how to combine qualitative and quantitative methods of inquiry in an interactive fashion over time. Using findings on women's health behaviors (e.g., menstruation, breast-feeding, coping strategies), we show how qualitative and quantitative methods highlight the theory of knowledge acquisition in women's health decisions. A rich data set of 48 semistructured, in-depth ethnographic interviews with mother—daughter dyads from six ethnic groups (Israeli, European, North African, Former Soviet Union [FSU], American/Canadian, and Ethiopian), plus seven focus groups, provided the qualitative sources for analysis. This data set formed the basis of research questions used in a quantitative telephone survey of 302 Israeli women from the ages of 25 to 42 from four ethnic groups. We employed multiple cycles of data analysis from both data sets to produce a more detailed and multidimensional picture of women's health behavior decisions through a spiraling process.

Key Words: immigrant populations • knowledge acquisition • mixed methods • research models • women's health


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