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- Mixed Methods Research | Definition, Guide & Examples
Mixed Methods Research | Definition, Guide & Examples
Published on August 13, 2021 by Tegan George . Revised on June 22, 2023.
Mixed methods research combines elements of quantitative research and qualitative research in order to answer your research question . Mixed methods can help you gain a more complete picture than a standalone quantitative or qualitative study, as it integrates benefits of both methods.
Mixed methods research is often used in the behavioral, health, and social sciences, especially in multidisciplinary settings and complex situational or societal research.
- To what extent does the frequency of traffic accidents ( quantitative ) reflect cyclist perceptions of road safety ( qualitative ) in Amsterdam?
- How do student perceptions of their school environment ( qualitative ) relate to differences in test scores ( quantitative ) ?
- How do interviews about job satisfaction at Company X ( qualitative ) help explain year-over-year sales performance and other KPIs ( quantitative ) ?
- How can voter and non-voter beliefs about democracy ( qualitative ) help explain election turnout patterns ( quantitative ) in Town X?
- How do average hospital salary measurements over time (quantitative) help to explain nurse testimonials about job satisfaction (qualitative) ?
Table of contents
When to use mixed methods research, mixed methods research designs, advantages of mixed methods research, disadvantages of mixed methods research, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions.
Mixed methods research may be the right choice if your research process suggests that quantitative or qualitative data alone will not sufficiently answer your research question. There are several common reasons for using mixed methods research:
- Generalizability : Qualitative research usually has a smaller sample size , and thus is not generalizable. In mixed methods research, this comparative weakness is mitigated by the comparative strength of “large N,” externally valid quantitative research.
- Contextualization: Mixing methods allows you to put findings in context and add richer detail to your conclusions. Using qualitative data to illustrate quantitative findings can help “put meat on the bones” of your analysis.
- Credibility: Using different methods to collect data on the same subject can make your results more credible. If the qualitative and quantitative data converge, this strengthens the validity of your conclusions. This process is called triangulation .
As you formulate your research question , try to directly address how qualitative and quantitative methods will be combined in your study. If your research question can be sufficiently answered via standalone quantitative or qualitative analysis, a mixed methods approach may not be the right fit.
But mixed methods might be a good choice if you want to meaningfully integrate both of these questions in one research study.
Keep in mind that mixed methods research doesn’t just mean collecting both types of data; you need to carefully consider the relationship between the two and how you’ll integrate them into coherent conclusions.
Mixed methods can be very challenging to put into practice, and comes with the same risk of research biases as standalone studies, so it’s a less common choice than standalone qualitative or qualitative research.
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There are different types of mixed methods research designs . The differences between them relate to the aim of the research, the timing of the data collection , and the importance given to each data type.
As you design your mixed methods study, also keep in mind:
- Your research approach ( inductive vs deductive )
- Your research questions
- What kind of data is already available for you to use
- What kind of data you’re able to collect yourself.
Here are a few of the most common mixed methods designs.
Convergent parallel
In a convergent parallel design, you collect quantitative and qualitative data at the same time and analyze them separately. After both analyses are complete, compare your results to draw overall conclusions.
- On the qualitative side, you analyze cyclist complaints via the city’s database and on social media to find out which areas are perceived as dangerous and why.
- On the quantitative side, you analyze accident reports in the city’s database to find out how frequently accidents occur in different areas of the city.
In an embedded design, you collect and analyze both types of data at the same time, but within a larger quantitative or qualitative design. One type of data is secondary to the other.
This is a good approach to take if you have limited time or resources. You can use an embedded design to strengthen or supplement your conclusions from the primary type of research design.
Explanatory sequential
In an explanatory sequential design, your quantitative data collection and analysis occurs first, followed by qualitative data collection and analysis.
You should use this design if you think your qualitative data will explain and contextualize your quantitative findings.
Exploratory sequential
In an exploratory sequential design, qualitative data collection and analysis occurs first, followed by quantitative data collection and analysis.
You can use this design to first explore initial questions and develop hypotheses . Then you can use the quantitative data to test or confirm your qualitative findings.
“Best of both worlds” analysis
Combining the two types of data means you benefit from both the detailed, contextualized insights of qualitative data and the generalizable , externally valid insights of quantitative data. The strengths of one type of data often mitigate the weaknesses of the other.
For example, solely quantitative studies often struggle to incorporate the lived experiences of your participants, so adding qualitative data deepens and enriches your quantitative results.
Solely qualitative studies are often not very generalizable, only reflecting the experiences of your participants, so adding quantitative data can validate your qualitative findings.
Method flexibility
Mixed methods are less tied to disciplines and established research paradigms. They offer more flexibility in designing your research, allowing you to combine aspects of different types of studies to distill the most informative results.
Mixed methods research can also combine theory generation and hypothesis testing within a single study, which is unusual for standalone qualitative or quantitative studies.
Mixed methods research is very labor-intensive. Collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing two types of data into one research product takes a lot of time and effort, and often involves interdisciplinary teams of researchers rather than individuals. For this reason, mixed methods research has the potential to cost much more than standalone studies.
Differing or conflicting results
If your analysis yields conflicting results, it can be very challenging to know how to interpret them in a mixed methods study. If the quantitative and qualitative results do not agree or you are concerned you may have confounding variables , it can be unclear how to proceed.
Due to the fact that quantitative and qualitative data take two vastly different forms, it can also be difficult to find ways to systematically compare the results, putting your data at risk for bias in the interpretation stage.
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If you want to know more about statistics , methodology , or research bias , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.
- Degrees of freedom
- Null hypothesis
- Discourse analysis
- Control groups
- Non-probability sampling
- Quantitative research
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Research bias
- Rosenthal effect
- Implicit bias
- Cognitive bias
- Selection bias
- Negativity bias
- Status quo bias
Quantitative research deals with numbers and statistics, while qualitative research deals with words and meanings.
Quantitative methods allow you to systematically measure variables and test hypotheses . Qualitative methods allow you to explore concepts and experiences in more detail.
In mixed methods research , you use both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods to answer your research question .
Data collection is the systematic process by which observations or measurements are gathered in research. It is used in many different contexts by academics, governments, businesses, and other organizations.
Triangulation in research means using multiple datasets, methods, theories and/or investigators to address a research question. It’s a research strategy that can help you enhance the validity and credibility of your findings.
Triangulation is mainly used in qualitative research , but it’s also commonly applied in quantitative research . Mixed methods research always uses triangulation.
These are four of the most common mixed methods designs :
- Convergent parallel: Quantitative and qualitative data are collected at the same time and analyzed separately. After both analyses are complete, compare your results to draw overall conclusions.
- Embedded: Quantitative and qualitative data are collected at the same time, but within a larger quantitative or qualitative design. One type of data is secondary to the other.
- Explanatory sequential: Quantitative data is collected and analyzed first, followed by qualitative data. You can use this design if you think your qualitative data will explain and contextualize your quantitative findings.
- Exploratory sequential: Qualitative data is collected and analyzed first, followed by quantitative data. You can use this design if you think the quantitative data will confirm or validate your qualitative findings.
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A Sample Mixed Methods Dissertation Proposal Prepared by Nataliya V. Ivankova NOTE: This proposal is included in the ancillary materials of Research Design ... (UNL), using a mixed methods design. The rationale for combining both quantitative and qualitative approaches is that the quantitative data and results provide a general picture of the ...
A MIXED-METHOD APPROACH TO INVESTIGATE INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOUR IN ONLINE HEALTH COMMUNITIES A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Bashir Sezuo Tenuche Department Computer Science Brunel University February, 2018 . 2 ABSTRACT
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY The methods used in this research consist of a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches: a "mixed methods" approach, which is described in more detail in this chapter. The first section explains the rationale for using a mixed methods approach and ethical and practical issues.
The study detailed in this dissertation was designed to examine and understand student perceptions of self-efficacy, motivation, student-teacher relationships, and procedural differences during the transition to middle school. The mixed-methods study utilized a survey, focus groups, and interviews to triangulate the data.
mixed-methods research design is a research design that has its own philosophical assumptions and methods of inquiry. As a methodology, it includes philosophical assumptions to provide directions for the collection and analysis of data from multiple sources in a single study. A mixed-methods design offers a number of benefits to approaching ...
A MIXED-METHODS ANALYSIS OF BEST PRACTICES FOR ... This thesis begins with an assessment of the different types of mobile applications, which will be followed by an evaluation of why universities should establish or re-develop a mobile strategy and how they can do so.
A mixed methods dissertation is by definition and combination of two distinct but complimentary research designs. In this section the researcher is to defend why this mixed inquiry is justified and how the approach by its combination of techniques is uniquely qualified to answer the research questions and thereby provide perspectives
The purpose of this embedded mixed methods study was to investigate the effectiveness and experience of a faculty development program focused on a specific programmatic learning outcome.
This article presents the basics of mixed-method research as a distinct methodology that uses both quantitative and qualitative research methods to create empirical research.
The most recent guidelines for conducting mixed methods research were proposed by Venkatesh et al. (2013). They divided their guidelines into two major areas—general guidelines. (i.e., appropriateness of mixed methods research and meta-inferences) (Steps 1 to 4) and. validation (Steps 5 to 6).
Quantitative and qualitative purists have for decades advocated the incompatibility thesis, which contends that quantitative and qualitative research paradigms cannot be mixed (Johnson & ... multi-method, mixed method, or triangulation in the title, as key words, or in the abstract. After
This sequential, exploratory mixed methods study examined how rural and urban school contexts affect school principals' decision-making process by influencing school principals' mental models.
A Mixed Methods Study: Evaluating the Impact of a Bespoke Professional Development Based on an Analysis of Existing Quality in One Local Authority. Denise Jane Kingston A thesis submitted in accordance with the conditions governing candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University College London
Doctoral Dissertation. Title: A mixed methods study of online course facilitators' perceptions of mobile technology, design, and TPaCK affordances
Mixed method researchers need to clarify the objectives of qualitative and quantitative data synthesis. Pragmatists believe research always takes place in social, historical, political, and other backdrops. Therefore, mixed method studies may comprise of a postmodern essence echoing social justice and political objectives.
The philosophical underpinning of pragmatism allows and guides mixed methods researchers to use a variety of approaches to answer research questions that cannot be addressed using a singular method.
This paper presents a collaborative mixed methods approach used to investigate the content and nature of the comment produced by each examiner to support their recommendation on doctoral theses by candidates of Australian universities.
Mixed methods research combines elements of quantitative research and qualitative research in order to answer your research question. Mixed methods can help you gain a more complete picture than a standalone quantitative or qualitative study, as it integrates benefits of both methods. Mixed methods research is often used in the behavioral ...
Kemper, Springfield and Teddlie (2003) define mixed methods design as a method that includes both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis in parallel form (concurrent mixed method design in which two types of data are collected and analyzed in sequential form). ...
The mixed method research design was applied in this study to investigate students‟ perceptions of both public and private universities in Kabul Afghanistan on the use of online tools to enhance their approach to learning. In relation to this, this study also looked at how the online tools are able to develop thinking skills. ...
Mixed-methods research combines both quantitative and qualitative approaches, as is common in case studies, surveys and action research. There are no separate guidelines below for mixed methods. ... Dissertation proposals should include the elements normally found in Chapters 1, 2, 3, and the References of a dissertation.