Conducting Transformative Mixed Methods Research in Higher Education: A Primer

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 1:45 pm - Gold 4
  In Roundtable Session: Applying Mixed Methods for Understanding Experience, Action, and Organizational Change in Higher Education

Abstract

This essay discusses Transformative Mixed Methods Research (TMMR) as a critical framework for addressing systemic inequities in higher education. While mixed methods research has gained prominence, traditional approaches often fall short in centering marginalized voices or driving structural change. TMMR offers a justice-oriented alternative by integrating qualitative and quantitative methods through collaborative, equity-focused engagement. Drawing from foundational literature and practical examples in higher education research, this essay outlines a framework for designing and conducting TMMR that emphasizes cultural responsiveness, power awareness, and action. It argues that TMMR is not only methodologically robust but ethically imperative for scholars committed to reimagining higher education research as a tool for transformation rather than description alone.

Author

• Xueli Wang, University of Wisconsin - Madison