The Foundation (Quantitative)
I start with a large-scale survey of 200–300 SEC football student-athletes to identify broad trends in mental health indicators like anxiety and stress.
Research Methodology
Methodological Lens: The Research Journey: To capture the full scope of this phenomenon, I utilize an Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Design (QUAN → QUAL).
The Depth (Qualitative)
I then follow up with in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 15–25 participants to understand the 'how' and 'why' behind the numbers.
Step 1: Quantitative Survey (200–300 SEC athletes)
→
Step 2: Qualitative Interviews (15–25 athletes)
The Purpose
This multifaceted approach is the only way to capture both the generalizable patterns and the intricate personal narratives that define the marginalized student-athlete experience. This approach resonates because it allows you to establish a broad foundation of trends through quantitative data (like GAD-7 or PSS-10 scales) before using qualitative interviews to uncover the deep, personal 'how' and 'why' behind those numbers.