Operationalizing and Expanding the Rigorous Mixed Methods Framework for Systematic Reviews: The Case of Inclusive Education

Abstract

Rigor evaluation in mixed methods research is a growing need. Linking rigor to Hong and Pluye’s (2019) concepts of methodological and reporting quality, the purpose of this article is to operationalize and expand Harrison et al.’s (2020) Rigorous Mixed Methods Framework. Drawing from a systematic methodological review of 66 inclusive education studies, we (a) operationalize each element of the original framework, and (b) present arguments for two additional advanced elements, paradigm and ethics. Contributions to the field of mixed methods include situating the concept of rigor in the quality literature, expanding a rigor tool by developing guiding questions, and offering both conceptual and empirical justification for including paradigm and ethics in the rigor tool.