The Early Childhood Research Institute on Inclusion (ECRII) chose mixed methods to investigate the ecological system of inclusion for children with disabilities in preschool programs (Li, Marquart, & Zercher, 2000). They wanted answers to a number of questions such as: What are the goals that families, teachers, program administrators, and policy makers have for inclusion? What are their multiple definitions and ways of implementing inclusion? What are the barriers to and facilitators of inclusion in various settings? The researchers used mixed methods to gain a broader perspective and deeper understanding of different levels of the systems and interactions than they could obtain through a single method of research .
Mixed methods and mixed models research are defined and their typical characteristics are discussed.
The importance of mixed methods and mixed models in special education research is explored.
The philosophical assumptions of this approach are explained, along with the methodological implications ...