How to Develop Emergent Mixed Methods Designs Using Multiple Purposes of Mixing

• In Event: Refining Mixed Methods Research

Abstract

In the mixed methods literature over the past 25 years, purposes of mixing have typically been treated as characteristics of an overall mixed methods design. However, many purposes operate on a within-study basis rather than applying to the entire study. In perhaps the majority of studies, researchers rely on multiple purposes of mixing. Some purposes are identified at the beginning of the study, and other purposes emerge during the conduct of the study. In this paper, we describe an example of an emergent design, involving various decision points with various purposes of mixing. Rather than designing a whole study, we argue that researchers should design for the best next step.

Authors

• Judith Schoonenboom, University of Vienna

• Burke Johnson, University of South Alabama

• Dominik Emanuel Froehlich, University of Vienna