Virtual Special Issue on “Quality in Mixed Methods Research”

Abstract

The quality of mixed methods research (MMR) has been a much-debated topic in the field as evidenced by a significant number of published articles (Bryman, 2014; Bryman et al., 2008; O’Cathain et al., 2008; Onwuegbuzie & Johnson, 2006; Onwuegbuzie & Poth, 2016), chapters of mixed methods handbooks (Collins, 2015; O’Cathain, 2010), and reports (NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences, 2018). Two reviews by Heyvaert et al. (2013) and Fàbregues and Molina-Azorin (2017) traced the increase in the number of publications since the mid-2000s, a period coinciding with the beginning of the expanded procedural developmental period, according to Creswell and Plano Clark (2018). In this period, MMR methodologists focused on consolidating the acceptance of MMR through the publication of guidelines and criteria for the design, implementation, and reporting of high-quality MMR studies. Owing to Journal of Mixed Methods Research’s (JMMR) leadership during this period, the journal took seriously its responsibility to publish several substantial editorials and articles dedicated to the topic of quality in MMR. In this editorial, we introduce this virtual special issue by providing an overview of these previously published editorials and articles. Since MMR has several features that are distinct from those of quantitative and qualitative research, this research should be appraised using criteria specifically related to MMR. Specifically, appraisals of MMR need to provide both a rationale for using MMR and specific evidence of integration of the quantitative and qualitative components. These criteria allow researchers to guarantee the warrantability and transparency of MMR studies in which they participate, journal editors and reviewers to be confident that published MMR manuscripts meet high-quality standards, and researchers participating in MMR systematic reviews to ensure that they can distinguish the best evidence available. An important challenge for the establishment of quality criteria stems from the diversity of viewpoints in the MMR field where various disciplines and philosophical stances converge. Several authors (Creswell, 2015, Plano Clark & Ivankova, 2016) have argued that quality of MMR is highly context-dependent and this characteristic makes agreement on criteria a difficult undertaking. The general points of agreement and plurality of views on this topic are both well represented in the five editorials and eight articles we have chosen for this virtual special issue. The articles chosen broach a range of subjects, including the following: the development of quality criteria and frameworks, overviews of quality criteria, and reflections on the concept of quality.