Compatibility, integration, and epistemology: Contemporary issues from a mixed methods research experiment

Abstract

Combining quantitative and qualitative methods in Mixed Methods Research (MMR) makes it possible to benefit from the different strengths of each method. However, achieving a successful combination is not always easy. This article discusses the use of MMR in a study of clinical intervention, detailing the challenges, some insurmountable, encountered in designing the methodology, integrating the results, and preparing for the work for publication. These challenges are contextualized by reference to the current literature on MMR. The authors conclude by discussing the evolution of MMR and call for further critical reflection on compatibility, theory, and epistemology, and the resources and skills required to use the method effectively.