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Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research
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Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research

Fourth Edition


January 2026 | 524 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

Combining the latest thinking about mixed methods research designs with practical, step-by-step guidance, the Fourth Edition of Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research now covers seven mixed methods designs in depth, with accompanying journal articles in the back of the book illustrating the three core mixed methods designs. Authors John W. Creswell and Vicki L. Plano Clark walk readers through the entire research process, from formulating research questions to sampling and collecting data, analyzing and integrating data, and drawing metainferences from the integrated results. This edition provides enhanced discussion of integration, joint displays, and metainferences and includes updated examples from published mixed methods studies drawn from the social, behavioral, health, and education disciplines.

 
List of Figures
 
List of Tables
 
Preface
 
About the Authors
 
Chapter 1: The Nature of Mixed Methods Research
Defining Mixed Methods Research

 
Examples of Mixed Methods Studies

 
What Research Problems Call for Mixed Methods?

 
What Are the Advantages of Using Mixed Methods?

 
What Are the Challenges in Using Mixed Methods?

 
Summary

 
Activities

 
Additional Resources to Examine

 
 
Chapter 2: The Foundations of Mixed Methods Research
Historical Foundations

 
Philosophical Foundations

 
Theoretical Foundations

 
Summary

 
Activities

 
Additional Resources to Examine

 
 
Chapter 3: Core Mixed Methods Designs
Key Concepts That Inform Mixed Methods Designs

 
Typology-Based and Interactive Approaches to Mixed Methods Design

 
The Three Core Mixed Methods Designs

 
Considerations in Choosing a Core Design

 
Summary

 
Activities

 
Additional Resources to Examine

 
 
Chapter 4: Hybrid Mixed Methods Designs
Defining Hybrid Mixed Methods Designs

 
Approaches for Conceptualizing Hybrid Mixed Methods Designs

 
Four Prominent Types of Hybrid Mixed Methods Designs

 
Drawing Procedural Diagrams of Hybrid Designs

 
Summary

 
Activities

 
Additional Resources to Examine

 
 
Chapter 5: Introducing a Mixed Methods Study
Writing a Mixed Methods Title

 
Stating the Research Problem in the Introduction

 
Developing the Purpose Statement

 
Writing Research Questions, Aims, and Hypotheses

 
Summary

 
Activities

 
Additional Resources to Examine

 
 
Chapter 6: Sampling and Collecting Data in a Mixed Methods Study
Qualitative and Quantitative Sampling and Data Collection Procedures

 
General Considerations for Sampling and Data Collection in Mixed Methods

 
Ethical Considerations Within Mixed Methods Designs

 
Sampling Within Mixed Methods Designs

 
Data Collection Within the Mixed Methods Designs

 
Summary

 
Activities

 
Additional Resources to Examine

 
 
Chapter 7: Analyzing Data in a Mixed Methods Study
Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analysis Procedures

 
General Procedures for Mixed Methods Data Analysis

 
Integration Analysis Within the Mixed Methods Designs

 
Software Applications and Mixed Methods Data Analysis

 
Summary

 
Activities

 
Additional Resources to Examine

 
 
Chapter 8: Creating Joint Displays and Drawing Metainferences in a Mixed Methods Study
Quantitative and Qualitative Procedures to Represent, Interpret, and Validate Results

 
General Procedures to Represent, Interpret, and Validate Mixed Methods Integration Results

 
Creating a Template to Design a Joint Display

 
Joint Displays and Metainferences Within the Types of Mixed Methods Designs

 
Validity Threats and the Types of Mixed Methods Designs

 
Summary

 
Activities

 
Additional Resources to Examine

 
 
Chapter 9: Writing and Evaluating Mixed Methods Research
General Guidelines for Writing about Mixed Methods Studies

 
Mixed Methods Writing Structures for a Plan or Report

 
Evaluating a Mixed Methods Study

 
Summary

 
Activities

 
Additional Resources to Examine

 
 
Appendix A: Example of a Mixed Methods Study that Applied a Convergent Design
 
Appendix B: Example of a Mixed Methods Study that Applied an Explanatory Sequential Design
 
Appendix C: Example of a Mixed Methods Study that Applied an Exploratory Sequential Design
 
Glossary
 
References
 
Index

The level of depth provided in this book is the exact level that we need for our introductory course to mixed methods research. The ways methods are conveyed have direct impact on how students can conceptualize the content and directly impacts their understanding and confidence in being able to apply what they learn.

Stephanie J. Jones
Texas Tech University

The students find this text readable, useful, and refer to it as they develop their research proposal for this course. Students who conduct mixed methods research for their dissertation have found this text to be a useful guide.

J. Carolyn Graff
University of Tennessee Health Science Center

For instructors