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Developing Theory From Complexity: Reflections on a Collaborative Mixed Method Participatory Action Research Study

Wilfrid Laurier University, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Joanna Ochocka

Centre for Community-Based Research, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Nora Jacobson

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Laura Simich

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Sarah Maiter

York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Rich Janzen

Centre for Community-Based Research, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Augie Fleras

University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Research studies are increasingly complex: They draw on multiple methods to gather data, generate both qualitative and quantitative data, and frequently represent the perspectives of more than one stakeholder. The teams that generate them are increasingly multidisciplinary. A commitment to engaging community members in the research process often adds a further layer of complexity. How to approach a synthesizing analysis of these multiple and varied data sources with a large research team requires considerable reflection and dialogue. In this article, we outline the strategies used by one multidisciplinary team committed to a participatory action research (PAR) approach and engaged in a mixed method program of research to synthesize the findings from four subprojects into a conceptual framework that could guide practice in community mental health organizations. We also summarize factors that hold promise for increasing productivity when managing complex research projects.

Key Words: complexity • critical methods • cultural competence • grounded theory • knowledge construction • mental health and illness • mixed methods • multiple methods • participatory action research (PAR)

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