Questions: Read the author's response below and evaluate their answer. What are your thoughts? Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not? What can you add to extend the discussion?

There are four main threats to validity to be aware of if using the mixed-methods convergent research design. One major threat is not using parallel concepts for both the quantitative and qualitative data collection. A strategy to minimize this threat is to create parallel questions which address the same concept. Another potential threat to validity is having unequal sample sizes. It will be necessary to either use the same sample size, or precisely explain the rationale for using different samples. The third threat to validity for convergent design is to keep results from different databases separate, and a way to minimize this threat is to use an integration strategy for data analysis, such as a joint display table or a side-by-side comparison. Finally, a threat to validity is not resolving disconfirming results from the findings. It will be necessary to complete an ongoing analysis to point out areas where the results differ to further refine questions of importance to the research (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2018).

In our textbook, there are some software suggestions that the authors point out which can be helpful for data analysis: NVivo and MAXQDA. These programs can also help ensure validity within a mixed methods study, simply because there is so much data to keep track of, and it can be difficult to create connections by hand or by using basic computer software (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2018). For example, MAXQDA can link qualitative data, such as coding and memoing, into quantitative data (counting the number of times a code occurs). This program can do many other things for the mixed methods researcher like exporting qualitative data into a statistical program to create a data display with variables on the horizontal axis and themes on the vertical axis (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2018). It is necessary for a mixed methods researcher to employ a variety of tools that are technology-driven as well as traditional paper files in order to be prepared to integrate the quantitative and qualitative data successfully.