UNDERSTANDING MIXED METHODS RESEARCH

01-Creswell (Designing) 5/16/2006 8:31 PM Page 1. CHAPTER 1. UNDERSTANDING MIXED . METHODS RESEARCH . W ork on this book began almost a decade ago when we started writing about MIXED METHODS RESEARCH at the time that quali- tative RESEARCH had achieved legitimacy and writers were advo- cating for its use in the social and human sciences. Since then, we have published more than a dozen articles and book chapters on MIXED METHODS RESEARCH . However, our own articles, as well as articles written by others, are difficult to find because they are scattered in many journals and books. This is why it is difficult to see the emerging threads of this new approach. We say that MIXED METHODS is a new approach, but we recognize that others may not see it as a recent approach. Researchers for many years have collected both quantitative and qualitative data in the same studies. However, to put both forms of data together as a distinct RESEARCH design or method- ology is new.

to the meaning of mixed methods research, the definition will evolve. For the purposes of this book, we will define it as follows: Mixed methods research is a research design with philosophical assump-tions as well as methods of inquiry. As a methodology, it involves philo-sophical assumptions that guide the direction of the collection and

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  Research, Methods, Methodology, Methods research

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