Designing Mixed Methods Studies to Contribute to Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice: Implications for Library and Information Sciences

Background

The world is facing many complex challenges, such as climate disasters, a global pandemic, and an increasing gap between rich and poor. These types of challenges are called wicked problems because there is an urgent need to find solutions, but there is no agreed upon solution that is considered to be the “right” one (Mertens, 2015; Rittel & Webber, 1973). Solutions need to come from interdisciplinary teams of researchers who have access to quality information on which to base decisions and measure progress. The complexity of the needed solutions is increased because of the overlap in social, economic, and environmental issues that need to be addressed (Widianingsih & Mertens, 2019). The transformative approach to mixed methods emerged in response to the voices of those who are marginalized and vulnerable who wanted a change in how research is done in their communities so that it would be more responsive and supportive of needed transformative changes (Cram, Chilisa & Mertens, 2013).

Ngulube’s (2015) review of research studies in knowledge management led him to the conclusion that making explicit “the paradigms, methodology, approaches and data collection methods add to the quality of the inquiry (p.138).” In this chapter, four sets of assumptions are set forth to define the transformative framework for mixed methods research. (Mertens, 2020). The transformative axiological assumption is concerned with the nature of ethics and values and is characterized by a conscious choice to further social, economic, and environmental justice as an outcome of the research. The transformative ontological assumption about the nature of reality is characterized by the recognition that different versions of reality exist; some of these versions of reality sustain an oppressive status quo and other versions of reality provide a basis for systemic, structural change to increase justice. The transformative epistemological assumption recognizes the value of knowledge that is rooted in community experience and the need to structure relationships in research studies in ways that address power inequities and contribute to sustainable transformative change. The three preceding assumptions provide the framework for the transformative methodological assumption that is characterized by a cyclical process that engages with communities to develop culturally responsive interventions and determine their effectiveness. In the next section, these assumptions and their methodological implications are explored in greater detail.