Creswell_Research_Design_ Qualitative Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches 2018 5th Ed

Types of Mixed Methods Designs
There have been several typologies for classifying and identifying types of mixed methods strategies that
proposal developers might use in their proposed mixed methods study. Creswell and Plano Clark (2018)
identified several classification systems drawn from the fields of evaluation, nursing, public health, education
policy and research, and social and behavioral research. In these classifications, authors used diverse terms for
their types of designs, and a substantial amount of overlap of types existed in the typologies. For purposes of
clarifying the design discussion in the mixed methods field, we will identify three core mixed methods designs (as
shown in Figures 10.1 and 10.2)—the convergent design, the explanatory sequential design, and the
exploratory sequential design—and then briefly mention more complex designs (i.e., the mixed methods
experimental design, the mixed methods case study design, the mixed methods participatory–social justice
design, and the mixed methods evaluation design) in which the core designs can be embedded. Each approach
will be discussed in terms of a description of the design, the forms of data collection and data analysis and
integration, interpretation, and validity challenges.
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