December 2025 Edition

The Relevance of Mixed Methods Research Approach (Mmra) in Management Sciences Research.

SULEIMAN Abdulwasiu Alade (PhD), OLADELE, Waheed Olatunji (PhD), LAWAL, Yusuf Adedayo (PhD) , SULEIMAN Abdulwasiu Alade (PhD), OLADELE, Waheed Olatunji (PhD), LAWAL, Yusuf Adedayo (PhD)

Abstract

This study examines the comparative analysis of qualitative,
quantitative, and mixed methods research (MMR) approaches, with a
focus on their roles in management and social sciences research. The
study emphasizes that MMR, which combines qualitative and
quantitative data, offers a more holistic understanding of complex
research problems than either method alone. By analysing the strengths
and limitations of each approach, this research provides insights into
how MMR can enhance research validity and generalizability. The study
discusses the theoretical foundations of MMR, including pragmatism,
interpretivism, and positivism, and how these philosophical
perspectives inform the integration of qualitative and quantitative data.
Empirical studies across various domains, such as public policy,
healthcare, and education, are reviewed to demonstrate the practical
applications and challenges of MMR. The study finds that MMR is
particularly useful for addressing multifaceted issues and provides
richer insights than traditional single-method approaches. However,
challenges related to data integration and methodological complexity
remain significant. The study concludes by recommending further
research to explore the nuances of MMR, investigate industry-specific
factors that influence its effectiveness, and understand the dynamics
between qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research in
diverse contexts. This study contributes to the growing body of
knowledge on MMR, highlighting its potential to transform research
practices in management and social sciences by fostering more
comprehensive and context-sensitive analyses.

Keywords

Complementarity, Mixed Methods Research (MMR), Pragmatism, Quantitative Research, Qualitative Research

Full Text

Download

References

Bamakrishan, R., & Sathiyakumar, R. (2023). Mixed methods research in management
studies: Opportunities and challenges. International Journal of Management
Research, 15(2), 45–58.
Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
Chali, A., Eshete, M., & Debela, T. (2022). Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research
methods: Applications and challenges for researchers. Ethiopian Journal of Social
Sciences, 8(1), 22–38.
Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods
approaches (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and
mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed methods
research (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2021). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing
among five approaches (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
Dawadi, S., Shrestha, S., & Giri, R. A. (2021). Mixed?methods research: A discussion on its
types, challenges, and critiques. Pragmatism in Educational Research, 2(2), 25–36.
Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (2018). The Sage handbook of qualitative research (5th ed.).
Sage Publications.
Dube, L., Gupta, M., & Sharma, R. (2022). Big data analytics and organizational
performance: Implications for management research. Journal of Business Analytics,
5(1), 1–15.
Fàbregues, S., Molina-Azorín, J. F., & Fetters, M. D. (2021). The practice of critical mixed
methods research. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 15(3), 265–279.
Fetters, M. D., Curry, L. A., & Creswell, J. W. (2013). Achieving integration in mixed
methods designs: Principles and practices. Health Services Research, 48(6), 2134
2156.
Fetters, M. D., Molina-Azorín, J. F., & Curry, L. A. (2021). The Journal of Mixed Methods
Research: Past, present, and future. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 15(1), 3–10.
Greene, J. C. (2018). Mixed methods in social inquiry. Jossey-Bass.
Gupta, S., & Mohan, U. (2023). Integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches in
organizational research. Management Research Review, 46(4), 512–528.
Hopkins, W. G. (2008). Quantitative research design. Sportscience Press.
18
Inbal, B., Cohen, R., & Levy, S. (2023). Transforming qualitative data into quantitative
values: A matched mixed-methods approach. Journal of Mixed Methods Research,
17(2), 234–249.
Johnson, R. B., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. (2004). Mixed methods research: A research paradigm
whose time has come. Educational Researcher, 33(7), 14–26.
Jilcha, K. J. (2019). Research design and methodology: Foundations of mixed methods
research. Addis Ababa University Press.
Judith, H. A. (2023). Integration of qualitative and quantitative data in mixed-methods
research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 26(4), 451–466.
Leavy, P. (2022). Research design: Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, arts-based, and
community-based participatory research approaches. Guilford Press.
Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2010). Practical research: Planning and design (9th ed.).
Pearson Education.
Marshall, C., & Rossman, G. B. (2022). Designing qualitative research (7th ed.). Sage
Publications.
Mertens, D. M. (2021). Research and evaluation in education and psychology: Integrating
diversity with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods (5th ed.). Sage
Publications.
Morse, J. M., Niehaus, L., Wolfe, R. R., & Wilkins, S. (2016). Mixed method design:
Principles and procedures. Routledge.
Ponce, O. A., & Atkinson, L. (2022). Designing mixed methods research: A practical guide.
Journal of Educational Research Practice, 12(1), 1–12.
Saraswata, P., & Sagun, A. (2021). Research paradigms and methodological choices in social
science research. International Journal of Research Methodology, 4(3), 66–78.
Saunders, M. (2020). Research methods for business students (8th ed.). Pearson Education.
Schwandt, T. A. (2001). Dictionary of qualitative inquiry (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.
Schoonenboom, J., & Johnson, R. B. (2022). How to construct a mixed methods research
design. Kölner Zeitschrift für Soziologie und Sozialpsychologie, 74(S1), 107–131.
Shankar, P. R., Dubey, A. K., & Subish, P. (2018). Complementarity and triangulation in
mixed methods research. Education in Health, 31(2), 88–93.
Stylianos, P., & Dimitrios, K. (2022). Hybrid mixed-method strategies in political science
research. Journal of Political Methodology, 14(3), 201–218.
Teddlie, C., & Tashakkori, A. (2009). Foundations of mixed methods research. Sage
Publications.
19
Teddlie, C., & Tashakkori, A. (2021). Foundations of mixed methods research (2nd ed.). Sage
Publications.
Teddlie, C., & Yu, F. (2017). Mixed methods sampling: A typology with examples. Journal of
Mixed Methods Research, 1(1), 77–100.
Venkatesh, V., Brown, S. A., & Bala, H. (2016). Bridging the qualitative–quantitative divide.
MIS Quarterly, 40(2), 435–456.
Venkatesh, V., Brown, S. A., & Sullivan, Y. W. (2022). Guidelines for conducting mixed
methods research: An update. Information Systems Research, 33(1), 1–21.
Vives, A. (2023). Critical mixed methods research: Promise and limitations. Journal of Mixed
Methods Research, 17(4), 421–435.
Vivek, S., & Nanthagopan, Y. (2021). Application of mixed methods research designs in
management studies. Asian Journal of Management Research, 11(2), 99–112.
Vivek, S., & Chandrakumar, R. (2023). Reviewing mixed-method research: Applications and
critiques. Journal of Management Inquiry, 32(3), 287–300.