Integrating findings from surveys and case studies: examples from a study of standards-based educational reform

Researchers are increasingly using multiple research methods when studying large-scale school reforms, and the literature contains limited guidance about how to do this well. Over the past five years, the authors combined state-wide teacher surveys and exemplary school case studies to examine the impact of standards-based educational reforms in Kentucky and Washington. This paper uses examples from the study of the effects of the Washington education reform to explore how these methods can be used in complementary ways. It describes some of the benefits and shortcomings of the attempt to use both methods and makes recommendations for more effective integration of case study and survey methods in the future.