What is Research Approach

This chapter seeks to investigate the use of convergent mixed methods design, explanatory mixed methods design, exploratory mixed methods design, embedded mixed method design, transformative mixed methods design, and multiphase mixed methods design in 61 mixed methods-based LIS doctoral dissertations and theses completed between 2006 and 2018, retrieved from the ProQuest Library Science Database. Their retrieval was achieved through search for the term “mixed methods” in the abstract, based on the assumption that each author mentions their research method in the abstract. The aim is to assess the effectiveness of mixed methods use, including advantages and possible challenges of each type. The premise for doing so is that the mixing of methods must be a deliberate, skillfully crafted, not a haphazardly concocted fusion.