Evolving Mixed and Multimethod Approaches in Psychology

Abstract

This chapter identifies how and why ‘method’ has become so important to the psychology discipline. It considers the social history of the development of qualitative methods in psychology and considers the emergence of mixed methods such as pragmatism and Q methodology. Using discussions and research examples the chapter considers and illustrates how qualitative methods have been combined with quantitative methods and with each other as psychology has demanded more complex and nuanced insights to human behaviour. The chapters considers the influence of the underpinnings of the mixing of methods, paradigms and approaches in psychology and explains how these have been increasingly informed by qualitative approaches to psychological research. The chapter discusses also the emergence of pluralism as a new step in the mixing of methods and paradigms.