A first challenge is the fact that mixed methods have been the evaluation design of choice for
many development agencies for many years. However, many of these evaluations used
somewhat ad hoc approaches and most do not apply the kinds of methodological and conceptual
rigor that is required by academic journals such as the Journal of Mixed Method Research. So
the mixed method approach is not new per se, but the professional, financial and other resources
have usually not been available to increase methodological rigor.