What is the Core of Mixed Methods Research Practice?: Introducing the Mixed Methods Research Process

Abstract

Now that we have introduced the field of mixed methods research and described our socioecological framework for navigating the field, you may be wondering how you can apply this framework to your own mixed methods research practice. We recommend starting by examining the mixed methods research process, which is at the core of mixed methods research practice, and looking closely at its basic components. The mixed methods research process forms the centerpiece of our framework. We believe it is important to know the process of mixed methods research to be able to understand how it is informed and shaped by a system of hierarchical contexts and relationships that form the other layers and domains of the framework. Therefore, in this chapter we discuss the mixed methods research process and introduce its major components as well as related issues and debates.