Mixed-Methods Research The Third Movement in the Methodology of Social Sciences
Volume 5, Issue 2, Summer 2012, Pages 158-181
Mohsen Niazi
Abstract Combined research methods are called the third movement in research methodology. It means that in conducting the social research, seeking combined research methods is needed for improving the methodology of research that started with qualitative and quantitative approaches. In conducting humanistic and social research, the main approaches have developed in different methodological directions. What is known as the first wave of methodological change, initiated the application of empiricism and quantification. After a period of exerting dominance, it was recognized that quantification was not successful in showing individuals’ thoughts and ideas on complex as well as specific issues and events. The second wave of methodology known as qualitative research developed in 1970-1980. It emphasized perception processes that led to consequences of issues under study. In the last decade, limitations of qualitative approaches in generalizing results, combination of research results with researcher specific values, and the problem of validity and reliability of data have been considered as important challenges in qualitative researches. Thus, it is important to consider combined approach as the third movement of methodology. The main purpose of combined method known as multi-characteristic approach is to combine qualitative and quantitative approaches for giving a more inclusive perception of research issues. In this approach limitations of each of qualitative and quantitative researches are compensated. In addition, this method offers more reliable evidence and proof for research that will help the researcher to answer the questions that are unanswered by each of the qualitative and quantitative approaches alone. The other purpose of this research is to study qualitative and quantitative methodology comparatively, in a manner so that to recognize methodological limitations of each of these two approaches and to offer combined methods as a basic type of approach in the humanities and social research.