Encyclopedia Titanica

Teaching Mixed Methods: Using the Titanic Datasets to Teach Mixed Methods Data Analysis

Methodology

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The Titanic quantitative dataset has long been used to teach statistics. However, combining the quantitative dataset with a qualitative dataset of survivor testimonies shows that the Titanic case is an even better example to teach mixed methods. This article offers practical tools to teach mixed methods to undergraduate or postgraduate students in the social sciences, using the Titanic datasets. Based on an empirical analysis of the survival probabilities on the Titanic, we show how mixed methods lead to superior explanations than mono-method strategies. This paper has two goals: 1) to introduce the freely available linked Titanic datasets; and 2) to present a three-hour step-by-step exercise with the Titanic datasets that can be used to learn and teach mixed methods.

by Anaïd Lindemann, Jörg Stolz
Key Points

Mixed Methods Teaching

  • Uses Titanic datasets to teach mixed methods research, combining quantitative and qualitative data for a richer analysis experience.

Datasets Overview

  • Provides both quantitative data (survival rates, demographics) and qualitative testimonies from survivors, enabling integrated analysis.

Structured Exercise

  • Includes a three-hour guided exercise to teach students how mixed methods can produce more valid conclusions than single-method approaches.

Survival Analysis

  • Highlights how class, gender, and crew role affected survival, validated by cross-checking testimonies and quantitative data.

Triangulation and Insight

  • Demonstrates how mixed methods can triangulate insights, enriching understanding of complex social mechanisms, like “social games” in crisis situations.

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Titanic Datasets Data Analysis Teaching Methodology Survivor Testimony Quantitative Data Social Science Statistics

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