Mixed Methods in Knowledge Management and Organisational Research

Background

Prior to foregrounding the particularity of mixed methods research, it is germane to situate the approach in a broader context. Whilst the rigorous, coherent and transparent fusion of qualitative and quantitative data components is a central tenet of a mixed methods study, the capacity to employ multiple sources of evidence through different methods affords a long research tradition. Exemplars include case studies to benefit nuanced insight of a phenomenon across intrinsic, instrumental and collective cases (Stake, 2005; Yin, 2013); and grounded theory to systematically and iteratively examine social interaction and experiences to generate a theory of a process via constant comparison (Glaser & Strauss, 1967; Birks & Mills, 2011). It is also evidenced in some action research partnership approaches which iteratively address an immediate issue to surface and effect positive change and/or empower a group (Reason & Bradbury-Huang, 2013).

At this juncture, the specific facets of mixed methods research can be introduced, commencing with a synthesis of the varying definitions, classifications and nuanced nomenclature observed within domain literature (Burke Johnson, Onwuegbuzie & Turner, 2007). A mixed methods study comprises the systematic combination of qualitative and quantitative modes of enquiry in a single study or multiphase programme’s design, data collection, evaluation, interpretation and/or presentation phases. Recognising the intimate relationship between qualitative and quantitative data alongside different biases and limitations impacting all research approaches; it is opined that the broad summation of data collected and assessed through a mixed methods design capitalizes on respective strengths, supporting the optimisation of outcomes as appropriate to the problem situation (Cameron, 2011; Eaves, 2014a). Mixing can also occur at the research programme level (De Lisle 2013). Multiple method research is a related subset (Cameron & Molina-Azorin, 2011) which employs more than one approach within a study but set in the same tradition, such as using many forms of qualitative technique. Multiple data strategies can also be adopted within the methods themselves.