Philosophical and Methodological Aspects of a Mixed-Methods Research: a Review of the Academic Literature

Abstract

The selection of an appropriate research method is extremely critical for a value added research. The purpose of this study is to critically review the academic literature of a mixed-methods research and to examine the philosophical and methodological aspects that rationalize how and why a mixed-methods research could be useful in a management study. Hence, this paper critically reviews the ‘nuts and bolts’ of a ‘mixed methods’ research grounded on the research question intentionally drawn for illustration. In terms of contribution, this paper contributes to literature on a ‘mixed methods’ literature by providing a holistic view of a research design that manage the both quantitative and qualitative threads during the same phase of the research process typically termed as concurrent design in ‘mixed methods’ research. This particular design entail researchers to implement, upheld each thread independently during analysis, and finally mixes the results conjointly in such a way that they portray the apparent picture of the underlying phenomenon.