alterlab-mixed-methods
Mixed Methods Research Design
Overview
Mixed methods research is a methodology that combines quantitative and qualitative research approaches within a single study or program of inquiry. It goes beyond simply collecting both types of data — it requires intentional integration at one or more stages of the research process (design, methods, interpretation, reporting) to generate insights that neither approach could produce alone. This skill provides comprehensive guidance on designing, executing, and reporting mixed methods studies according to established frameworks, with particular emphasis on the Creswell & Plano Clark typology and the integration strategies that distinguish rigorous mixed methods from mere parallel data collection.
Mixed methods emerged as a recognized "third methodological movement" in the early 2000s, though researchers had been combining approaches for decades. Its legitimacy rests on the philosophical position of pragmatism — selecting methods based on what works best to answer the research questions rather than adhering to a single paradigm. Funders encourage it where a question needs both breadth and mechanism (NIH's Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, for instance, publishes best-practice guidance for mixed methods in the health sciences), and it is increasingly expected in health sciences, education, evaluation research, and social policy.