APPAM/Westat Institutional Member Forum: Bringing Rigor and Intentionality to Mixed Methods Evaluations of Social Programs

Mixed methods evaluation seeks to integrate a body of qualitative and quantitative evidence to form conclusions about the success, or impact, of a social policy intervention that neither piece alone—nor even the concatenation of their findings—can produce.  Despite its promise, concern persists that too often the qualitative and quantitative “mixing” occurs only after investigation ends and that mixed methods approaches lack the scientific rigor to be trusted. 

This day-long forum sponsored by Westat and APPAM will focus researchers on sharpening and expanding the mixed method paradigm to respond to these concerns and to enable impact evaluations to make larger contributions to policy learning.  Major themes include the roles of mixed methods evaluation in explaining/understanding impact findings from randomized control trials and in strengthening quasi-experimental analytic methods to ward off selection bias.  A view of how government agencies can benefit from the approach follows.  Closing perspectives—both skeptical and hopeful—consider where mixed methods evaluation may take us going forward.  Audience participation opportunities interlace the day.