Using mixed-methods approaches can really help us understand the culture of colleges and universities better. By using both numbers and personal stories, we get a fuller picture of what’s happening.

1. Quantitative Assessments: Surveys are a popular way to gather information from many people. For example, imagine a survey given to 500 teachers and staff members, using a tool designed to assess organizational culture. After collecting their answers, researchers can look at the data to find helpful information, such as:

   • Average satisfaction scores (like an average score of 4.2 out of 5).
   • Identifying important cultural aspects, like how well people communicate, work together, and uphold academic honesty. We can show this in percentages (for instance, 70% of people say they feel good about teamwork).

2. Qualitative Insights: After the surveys, researchers can hold interviews with a smaller, mixed group (like 30 people from different departments). These conversations can reveal details that surveys might miss. They can help us understand different views on leadership styles, the informal connections between people, and specific cultural issues that need attention.

3. Enhanced Validity: By using both surveys and interviews, researchers can get more trustworthy results. For example, if the surveys show that 80% of people feel trusted, but interviews uncover worries about how decisions are made, this points out a gap. This gap can help us know what needs fixing in the future.

In summary, using mixed-methods approaches gives us a richer understanding of the culture in higher education. This helps in creating better plans to make things better.