Consolidating Qualitative and Quantitative Findings in Substance Abuse Population through Mixed Methods Research

Rationale / Objectives: With consideration of the psycho social complexity in substance abuse (SA) problems, this pioneer study employing mixed methods to assess how social processes and individual behaviors could shape SA.Methods:An explanatory sequential design was employed. Quantitative data were collected by the Treatment Needs and Motivation Assessment (Lam, Ng & Boey, 2002), Drug Involvement Scale (Lam, Ng & Boey, 2002), Chinese Social Problem Solving Inventory (Siu & Shek, 2005) in order to assess individual’s beliefs, values and problem solving orientation. Qualitative review was achieved through activities such as free-listing, pile sorting and semi-structure interview. The impact of social influence on individuals was explored through the consolidation of quantitative and qualitative data. Purposeful sampling strategy for SA subjects was adopted.Results: Forty male subjects with aged from 20 to 45 (SD = 3.65) were recruited. Correlation and regression analysis successfully identified duration of SA, treatment needs & motivation,positive problem orientation in subjects with SA were significant predictors (β = .33, p < .05).In keeping with the findings of Simpson & Joe (1993), motivation for treatment-like problem recognition, desire for help and treatment readiness, were closely tied to positive problem orientation (r = .68, p < .01). They adopted a negative social problem solving orientation, such that, stress from work or study was noted with the highest response rate in terms of negative orientation.Conclusions: Qualitative and quantitative results agree with each other. Negative social problem solving orientation was one of the most prominent factors of substance abusers. Proper interventions should be focused.