Directives for Blended Research Approaches

In the world of research, tackling complex, interconnected questions requires a flexible and robust approach. Enter the multiphase research design, a methodology gaining traction in various fields due to its ability to support comprehensive and evolving analyses.

This design, characterised by its flexibility, allows researchers to conduct multiple studies iteratively over extended periods. However, it's important to note that this approach requires significant resources, time, and effort, spanning several years.

Each research phase necessitates the submission of updated or new protocols to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for approval, ensuring ethical standards are maintained throughout the project.

Effective collaboration with a research team is indispensable. Managing team dynamics, including the addition or removal of team members during the project, is crucial for the success of multiphase research.

Given the focus on program development in many multiphase designs, translating research results into actionable materials and programs is essential. This is particularly relevant in community health programs, where the World Health Organization (WHO) frequently employs multistage concepts to eliminate inequalities in underserved regions.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) also frequently use this approach in their behavioural and social science research initiatives, particularly in programs dealing with chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. In educational research, multistage designs are often used to investigate systemic questions.

This design is well-suited for iterative processes typically found in program evaluation and development research. It's worth mentioning that researchers such as Michael Drummond, Mark Sculpher, and Andrew Briggs have published examples of multi-phase methodological development projects in health economics in recent years.

One of the key challenges in multiphase research is addressing the difficulties typically associated with simultaneous and sequential methods in individual and subsequent phases. Researchers must establish meaningful connections between individual studies and effectively integrate qualitative and quantitative elements within each phase.

In summary, the multiphase research design offers a flexible and comprehensive approach to addressing complex, interconnected research questions. While it requires substantial resources and effort, it provides a valuable framework for conducting multiple studies over extended periods, ultimately supporting the development of actionable materials and programs.