Qualitative and Mixed Methodologies

• The Qualitative Mixed Methods Core (QMMC) service area provides consultation for investigators who would like short-term assistance with project design, grant writing, interview guide development, codebook development, or access to training materials.

• QMMC provides consultation for investigators who need long-term collaboration for funded projects. In this case, investigators are required to have two staff members or students on their team (i.e., research assistants, medical/grad students, project managers) to implement the work. Implementation means being trained to interview, facilitate transcription to an outside vendor, and code the transcripts.

• Medical students and graduate students are eligible as long as their mentor/advisor is present for the consultation meeting.

Consultations may include:

• Developing a strong qualitative and/or mixed methods research question

• Creating and refining an interview guide or other research design

• Providing an approximate sample size and budget for your project aims

• Giving guidance on available transcription and coding services

• Strengthening your codebook for analysis

• Providing resources for training on current software management programs, coding qualitative data, and other educational programs

• Outlining the methodology for inclusion into reports, manuscripts, or posters

• Reviewing and editing manuscripts for rigor in the reported qualitative and mixed methods findings

• Discussing how quantitative and qualitative findings can lead to further research

• Maximum of 4 free consultation hours per project. This 4-hour free limit per project is subject to annual review and may be adjusted in the future.

• Maximum of 2 projects per year per investigator

• Projects requiring more than four hours (or more than 2 project consultation requests per year) would require funding. Billing rates for additional collaboration will be discussed at that time.

• For grant proposals where QMMC personnel will be written into the grant for funded effort, additional free hours may be negotiated to prepare the grant submission.

• Eligibility for the 4 free consultation hours requires the presence of the mentor/advisor along with the student for the consultation meeting.

• Students are expected to analyze their own data for their MSR project based on the consultant’s recommendations. Therefore, studies requiring complex methods are usually not considered appropriate for a MSR project.

• Any hands-on data analysis performed by QMMC consultants using the free hours is considered the use of CTSI resources. Therefore, presentations, abstracts, and publications must appropriately cite the CTSI grant.

• For proper citation, please see the

• To receive proper attention, requests should be submitted well ahead of any deadline.

• Within two business days of receiving your submitted Request Form, the faculty or staff consultant handling your project will contact you to schedule an initial consultation meeting.

• In cases of emergency, and subject to the availability of personnel, limited assistance may be provided on short notice.

• There is no guarantee that every requested deadline will be honored.

• Projects may be triaged based on the priorities of the CTSI.