Mixed Research Methods

Introduction

Mixed methods research (MMR) is frequently used in social, behavioral and health sciences. It is becoming increasingly popular and is recognized as the third major research approach in relation to quantitative and qualitative research. Over the past 30 years, a significant amount of controversy has surrounded how MMR is defined and conceptualized (Johnson, Onwuegbuzie, & Turner, 2007; Mayoh & Onwuegbuzie, 2015). In the past decade, scholars have examined various perspectives in an effort to define core characteristics, conceptualize domains, and demarcate philosophical assumptions. The most widely accepted key components of a mixed methods study include; collecting analyzing and integrating quantitative and qualitative data; organizing

Leaders in the field have made significant progress in adopting a shared definition and clarifying a rationale for when a combination of quantitative and qualitative data can provide a more complete understanding of the identified problem being studied (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2018). The ongoing dialogue and transparency of strengths and challenges has advanced the rationale and growing use of MMR.
A significant advantage to MMR is the ability to collect data from multiple perspectives. It offers a way to capitalizing on strengths and compensate for weaknesses in both quantitative and qualitative research. For example, quantitative research does not capture the context of the lived experience and qualitative research lacks an ability to generalize findings because if its small sample size. Combining the approaches offers a way to maximize benefits and minimize deficits of each approach. This approach is especially valuable in social, behavioral and health sciences due to their complex nature (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2018; Sale, Lohfeld, & Brazil,

First, combining methods provides richer data. Second, the complementary data may enhance and clarify results from one method with results from the other. Third, the discovery of contradictions can lead to reframing the research. Fourth, opportunities to expand the breadth of inquiry. Fifth, seeking to converge and validate results from multiple methods studying the same phenomenon, known as triangulation. In MMR, the quality of the study and ability to answer complex research questions are enhanced by the use of methodological triangulation which is referred to in the literature as the use of multiple methods of gathering data. (Denzin, 2012; Johnson et al., 2007; Olsen, 2004).
A philosophical strength associated with MMR is the use of multiple beliefs and values. It encourages researchers to think pragmatically. This flexible philosophical approach supports focusing on the question and real life application. The practical nature is appropriate for solving problems with numbers as well as words and the use of observational skills and recording behavior (Creswell & Plano Clark,