Rationale for mixed methods research and design types.
Rationalea Descriptiona Design Typeb
Triangulation Quantitative and qualitative combined to triangulate findings to be mutually
corroborated.
Convergent
Offset Combining strands offsets their weaknesses to draw on the strengths of both. Convergent
Completeness Bringing together a more comprehensive account if both quantitative and qualitative
research is employed.
Exploratory, Explanatory, or Convergent
Process Quantitative provides an account of structures in social life but qualitative provides
sense of process.
Exploratory or Explanatory
Different Research Questions Quantitative and qualitative each answers different research questions. Convergent
Explanation One is used to help explain findings generated by the other. Explanatory
Unexpected Results When one strand generates surprising results that can be understood by employing
the other.
Explanatory, or Embedded
Instrument Development Qualitative is employed to develop questionnaire and scale items. Exploratory
Sampling One approach is used to facilitate the sampling of respondents or cases. Exploratory or Explanatory
Credibility Employing both approaches enhances the integrity of findings. Exploratory, Explanatory, or Convergent
Context Qualitative providing contextual understanding coupled with either generalizable,
externally valid findings or broad relationships among variables uncovered
through a survey.
Exploratory or Explanatory
Illustration Qualitative to illustrate quantitative findings (putting ‘meat on the bones’ of ‘dry’
quantitative findings).
Explanatory
Utility Among articles with an applied focus, the combining the two approaches will be
more useful to practitioners and others.
Exploratory, Explanatory, Convergent,
or Embedded
Confirm and Discover This entails using qualitative data to generate hypotheses and using quantitative
research to test them within a single project.
Exploratory
Diversity of View Combining researchers' and participants' perspectives through quantitative and
qualitative research respectively, and uncovering relationships between variables
through quantitative research while also revealing meanings among research
participants through qualitative research.
Convergent