Designing and conducting mixed methods research - John W. Creswell

Mixed method research design, spearheaded by the author of the best-selling Research Design text (Second Edition, SAGE 2002), combines the latest thinking about mixed methods research designs with practical, step-by-step guidelines for the decisions that must be made in designing a mixed methods research study. The text:

- offers a practical, how-to guide for designing a mixed methods study

- presents examples from actual, published mixed methods studies drawn across the social, behavioural, health, and education disciplines

- incorporates activities and exercises for classroom use or for use by the researcher in preparing designs

- contains a full glossary of terms for quick reference or as a study tool

- illustrates designs using visual diagrams and flowcharts

- goes through the entire research process (formulating questions, designing, collecting, interpreting, etc.) using four major types of mixed methods designs

Mixed methods research is defined as a procedure for collecting, analyzing, and mixing both quantitative and qualitative data in a single case study or series of studies and is becoming more common in studies across the social, behavioural, and health sciences as well as education.