Abstract
I am pleased to offer this media review of the Sage Handbook of Mixed Methods Research Design (Poth, 2023) edited by Dr Cheryl Poth. Dr Poth is a leading Canadian expert in the field of mixed methods research. Dr Poth is a Professor in the Faculty of Education and faculty member of the Centre for Applied Research in Assessment and Measurement in Education (CRAME) at the University of Alberta. Notably, there are 80 authors across the 37 chapters and 6 sections of the Handbook. It is emphasized that these authors are diverse both in terms of their geography (16 countries represented) and career stage. Furthermore, the contents of the Handbook were community-sourced by drawing on a 12-member International Advisory Board. This approach was adopted to ensure the relevance of the included topics to meet the varying needs of the Handbook’s intended audiences, including researchers and evaluators, instructors and learners alike, and research teams. This is a forward-facing resource that addresses the notable themes of adaptability and creativity in mixed methods designs and approaches, the need for and importance of mixed methods research in various global and cultural contexts, and the role of technology in mixed methods research (e.g., in integration and creating visuals).
Summary of Contents
Section 1: Inspiring Diversity and Innovation in Mixed Method Design
The purpose of the first section is to discuss the diverse history and evolving nature of mixed methods designs and highlight the centrality of designs to the field of mixed methods research, in general. Dr Plano Clark and Dr Creswell revisit their 2003 writing on mixed methods designs. Dr Molina-Azorin and Dr Fàbregues conclude Section 1 by indicating that developments in mixed methods research designs can help researchers address particular challenges and potentially promote a more equitable society. Importantly, this section highlights the role that vulnerable and/or marginalized individuals may play in mixed methods research as co-researchers. The important role of co-researchers, such as patient and caregivers in health research, for example, is becoming increasingly recognized as essential (Canadian Institutes of Health Research, 2023). As such, their role in mixed methods research in particular and the implications for design decisions is judged to be a particularly exciting and significant area for the field.
Section 2: The Craft of Mixed Methods Research Design
A key feature of Section 2 relates to the need for a “craft attitude” (i.e., “comfort with uncertainty, a nonlinear/recursive approach to research, and understanding research as storytelling”) (Sancartier, 2018, p. 47) to address the complexity or even “messiness” in designing and carrying out mixed methods research. The multi-faceted nature of this work can be daunting for those new to mixed methods research and/or in the context of conducting a thesis or dissertation. Thus, this section highlights that the Handbook overall is largely geared to those with at least some familiarity and even expertise with mixed methods research, rather than a novice to the field. However, the Handbook overall is a very engaging read with helpful examples throughout it.
Section 3: Expanding Mixed Methods Design Approaches
Importantly, Section 3 focuses on the conduct of mixed methods research in various cultural contexts, with calls for adapting mixed methods designs (to cultural contexts), encouraging increasing researcher reflexivity and participatory approaches. This is an extremely relevant section as the conduct of global research with diverse collaborators and participants has become increasing commonplace since the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for tailored solutions that fit the needs of specific populations and/or cultures has become increasingly recognized (Munce et al., 2020), and mixed methods, with adapted designs, are arguably the best approach to identify these nuances that are so important to uncover. Journal editors, for example, and others in the position to do so, should encourage submissions of mixed methods research in various cultural contexts so that other researchers, evaluators, learners, and others can learn from these examples. This theme is continued in Section 5: Navigating Research Cultures in Mixed Methods Design. Finally, this Section also focuses on intersecting quantitative and qualitative designs in mixed methods research.
Section 4: Designing Innovative Integrations With Technology
This section largely discusses how software and technology can or could be used to integrate data and report/display these integrated data. This Section is highly relevant as there has been increasing attention paid to processes on how qualitative and quantitative data are merged and meta-inferences are developed (e.g., Younas et al., 2023); software such as MAXQDA and even AI technologies could facilitate this process. Importantly, Dr Guetterman concludes the chapter discussing the role of graphic design software in advancing how merged results are presented via dynamic joint displays (e.g., a reader could review the different qualitative and quantitative results and meta-inferences by participant type). Indeed, these possibilities are exciting to the fields of joint displays in mixed methods research and knowledge translation (e.g., different dynamic joint displays could be created for different audiences to best communicate the merged findings).
Section 5: Navigating Research Cultures in Mixed Methods Design
As mentioned above, Section 5 of the Handbook provides a deeper exploration of the role in culture in mixed methods designs. Specific examples from Japanese, Spanish, and Chinese studies are provided.
Section 6: Exploring Design Possibilities and Challenges for Mixed Methods Research for the Future
The final section of the Handbook includes an exploration and review of emerging design directions for mixed methods research. These include exploring emergent and flexible designs, incorporating cultural adaptations into designs, using technology in design applications, and considering societal issues with design intersections. Importantly, Dr Mandy Archibald describes opportunities and challenges for a transdisciplinary mixed methods research future where self-reflexive, transdisciplinary mixed methods frameworks and teams might be implemented.
Contributions to the Field
This is a modern and forward-facing Handbook representing new and emerging mixed methods designs, approaches and considerations with most of the sections concluding with proposed future directions. As Dr Peter Rawlins and Dr Maggie Harnett assert at the conclusion of Section 6, the common themes across the Handbook are: “evidence, people, and technology” (p. 538). Across these three themes, there is the need to embrace the “messiness” of mixed methods research and be transparent about this complexity. Indeed, the Handbook emphasizes the utility of using mixed methods to address “wicked problems” and the “craft attitude” that is required in the modern application of mixed methods research.
Conclusion
The Sage Handbook of Mixed Methods Research Design edited by Dr Poth is a highly relevant, contemporary, and forward-thinking contribution to the mixed methods field. The Handbook achieves its objective of describing and promoting innovative, creative, and nimble mixed methods designs and approaches; its emphasis on the future directions including the role of culture, the untapped potential of technology in integration, and authentic transdisciplinary mixed methods is an inspiring call to action for learners, researchers/evaluators, instructors, and policy-makers alike. The Handbook is a welcome addition to those familiar or very familiar with mixed methods research; however, one drawback of the Handbook is that the topics described may be too nuanced for those novice to the field. However, I believe that audiences of mixed methods enthusiasts will greatly benefit from this Handbook to address the messy, “wicked problems” of today and tomorrow.
