Characteristics of Joint Displays Illustrating Data Integration in Mixed-methods Nursing Studies

Aims: To identify the characteristics of joint displays illustrating the data integration in mixed-methods nursing studies and to make recommendations for effective use of joint displays for the integration of qualitative and quantitative data in mixed-methods studies.

Design: Discussion Paper.

Data Sources: We have completed this paper as a part of a mixed-methods prevalence review of 190 studies published in nursing journals. We searched 10 nursing journals and three databases from January 2014-April 2018, additional journal search was performed from May-September 2018. We reviewed 17 studies that used joint displays as the method of data integration. Using a joint display typology, checklists, summary tables, and personal experiences of using joint displays, we evaluated the quality of displays.

Implications For Nursing: Nurse researchers should use advanced data integration approaches to increase the rigour of the mixed-methods studies. Joint displays can enable nurse researchers to efficiently integrate and synthesize the qualitative and quantitative data in mixed-methods studies. However, nurse researchers should clearly label the type and title of the display, include both qualitative and quantitative data and interpretations, and highlight the mixed-methods interpretations as confirmed, divergent, or expanded in the displays.

Conclusion: Joint displays are adopted for data integration in nursing mixed-methods studies. Improvements are required concerning data presentation in the displays. Researchers should provide clear titles and supporting data and inferences and identify the meta-inferences by assessing the fit between quantitative and qualitative data.

Impact: Despite the importance of integration in mixed methods, reviews indicated a consistent lack of integration in nursing research. Joint displays are structured frameworks used for the integration and synthesis of the qualitative and quantitative data at the analysis and interpretation levels. The discussed typology and characteristics of displays can enable nurse researchers to enhance the quality and presentation of integrated results in mixed-methods studies.