Mixed Methods and Its Potential for Beautiful Evidence: Maximizing Meta-Inferences and Dissemination Through Effective Visualizations

• In Event: Refining Mixed Methods Research

Abstract

“If you look after truth and goodness, beauty looks after herself.”

Beginning Beautiful evidence with this quote, Tufte (2006) ushers beauty center stage into the world of empirical research. Defining “beautiful evidence” as beautiful beyond being proof, Tufte argues beautiful evidence inspires intense seeing that, in turn, leads to more truthful ways of knowing that evidence. From this and a critical synthesis of empirical mixed methods articles, I argue mixed methods research has the greatest potential to wield its dynamic qualitative-quantitative wide-eyed seeing from which to form a holistic and evidentiary beauty. Detailing the truthful possibilities of my beauty-oriented research agenda, findings reveal that proper visual design not only assists meta-inferences but also the subsequent dissemination/utility of mixed methods research.

Author

• Anna Montana Cirell, Arizona State University - Tempe