MMR Open Forum

Introduction

Modern mixed methods research (MMR) emerged in the 1970s and 1980s. Growth in use of the methodology and the discipline has been expanding all over the world. Multiple textbooks focused on MMR have been published over the last 30 years. MMR has been used in many academic fields such as the social sciences, medicine, business, management, psychology, arts and humanities, and nursing. In order to discuss the current status and issues of MMR, we provide three-panel discussions each day as follows.

 

Day 1. Looking Back and Looking Forward:

Reviewing and Anticipating the Roles of the MMIRA & JSMMR

Saturday Sep. 14, 14:50-16:20

Rm. Auditorium

A growing interest in MMR has been encouraged and supported by recently established academic associations across the globe. Especially, the Mixed Methods International Research Association (MMIRA), since its establishment in 2013, has assumed strong leadership as the global hub for MMR. The Japan Society for Mixed Methods Research (JSMMR), which was established in 2015 and became the MMIRA’s first affiliate in 2016, has also been taking an active role in introducing MMR to researchers in Japan and its neighboring countries. In this open forum, we will review contributions the MMIRA and JSMMR have made in the past years to the dissemination and advancement of MMR while responding to their members’ needs. We will also exchange ideas and prospects regarding what the MMIRA and JSMMR can do in the future to further serve our members and the scientific community at large.

Discussants: 
  • Dr. John W. Creswell (University of Michigan / Aoyama Gakuin University)
  • Dr. Elizabeth Creamer (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)
  • Dr. Tomoko Kamei (St. Luke’s International University)
  • Dr. Hisako Kakai (Aoyama Gakuin University)
Moderator: 
  • Dr. Michael D. Fetters (University of Michigan)


Day 2. More Wholistic Understanding of Phenomenon in this Complex World

Sunday Sep. 15, 15:50-17:20

Rm. Auditorium

Issues and phenomena in this modern society, which we are facing, are complex, so is the society itself. We might feel less empowered for identifying and creating solutions. It will be only the way for us to try to wholistically understand those issues and phenomena with interdisciplinary and multi-perspective approaches.

This session will follow the Special Talks by Drs. Christie Davis and Cheryl Poth. Dr. Davis’s works focus on those human experience such as aging and death, which cannot be faced without humanity, compassion, and thus all the senses we can use. Dr. Poth is one of the world-known MMR researchers and her recent book proposes the role of MMR for complexity in the world.

he broad discussion themes that is hopefully to be achieved include “how MMR (or more generally using multiple research tools for multi-perspectivity) should do to better understand and face issues and phenomenon” and “how it can contribute to the ever-changing society and world.”

Discussants: 

  • Dr. Christine Davis  (University of North Carolina at Charlotte)
  • Dr. Cheryl Poth (University of Alberta)
Discussant & Moderator: 
  • Dr. Yoko Kawamura(*) (Shizuoka University of Art and Culture) 
 (*) Coordinator

Day 3. Mixed Methods Research in Asia: Understanding the Current State and Opportunities

Monday Sep. 16, 10:30-12:30

Rm. Auditorium

In 2018 alone, over 500 MMR journal articles were published. The mixed methods global movement has also spread to Asian countries/regions where English is not the first language. In each country/region, MMR has developed with unique qualities and emphases according to the situation and researcher preferences of each country/region. What remains unclear is the extent MMR has taken root in Asia. The 5th JSMMR Annual Conference will feature a forum to promote discussion and exchange of ideas about MMR development in Asia. We will conduct a survey using Survey Monkey in advance of the forum to fully understand the current state of MMR development its potential in Asia. At the forum, we will present the survey findings and engage participants in a discussion about MMR in Asia.

Discussants:

  • Dr. Chu Hongling (Peking University Third Hospital, China)
  • Dr. Keiichi Narita (*) (Kyoto University, Japan)
  • Dr. Maream Nillapun (Silpakorn University, Thailand)
  • Dr. Su-I Hou (University of Central Florida, Taiwan)
  • Dr. Wonsuk Lee (Sangmyung University, South Korea)

Moderators: 

  • Dr. Michael D. Fetters (University of Michigan, USA)
  • Dr. Taichi Hatta(*) (Kyoto University, Japan)

(*) Coordinators

 

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