Facilitating Mixed-Methods Analysis with Computational Notebooks

TL;DR

This paper introduces a unified computational notebook environment designed to support both qualitative and quantitative data analysis, reducing context-switching and mental load for mixed-methods researchers.

Contribution

It presents a novel integrated environment tailored for mixed-methods analysis, addressing a gap in existing tools and supported by user feedback from HCI researchers.

Findings

Positive user feedback on the environment’s usability

Reduced mental burden reported by researchers

Identified key features for effective mixed-methods analysis

Abstract

Data exploration is an important aspect of the workflow of mixed-methods researchers, who conduct both qualitative and quantitative analysis. However, there currently exists few tools that adequately support both types of analysis simultaneously, forcing researchers to context-switch between different tools and increasing their mental burden when integrating the results. To address this gap, we propose a unified environment that facilitates mixed-methods analysis in a computational notebook-based settings. We conduct a scenario study with three HCI mixed-methods researchers to gather feedback on our design concept and to understand our users' needs and requirements.