28 - Transformative Mixed Methods Design: Addressing Equity and Justice

Abstract Information: Evaluators can consciously address inequities in the world by the way they design their evaluations. Transformative mixed methods designs are explicitly constructed to serve this purpose. This workshop is designed to teach the use mixed methods for transformative purposes to better address the needs of members of marginalized communities, such as women, people with disabilities, people living in poverty, racial/ethnic minorities, and religious minorities. Participants will learn how to use a transformative lens to identify those aspects of culture and societal structures that support continued oppression and how to apply mixed methods designs to contribute to social transformation. Interactive learning strategies will be used including whole group discussion and working in small groups to apply the design of a transformative mixed methods evaluation to a case study.

Relevance Statement: My decision to focus solely on transformative mixed methods is based on several factors: The current political climate and the consequences of the pandemic have brought issues of racism, sexism, ableism, and homophobia into the spotlight. There are other opportunities for evaluators to learn about generic mixed methods approaches but my passion and expertise is in transformative mixed methods. Mixed methods design has become more sophisticated and has developed far beyond the idea of combining focus groups with surveys. The transformative approach to mixed methods is recognized as one of the major frameworks for conducting mixed methods studies. It is the only framework that starts with the ethical assumption that our evaluation work needs to explicitly address the issues of discrimination and oppression and that we can provide a basis for transformative actions that increase justice in the world.