Disambiguating the Role of Paradigms in Mixed Methods Research

Abstract

In the mixed methods research (MMR) literature, the term paradigm is used in a number of ways to support very different accounts. This article aims to contribute to the ongoing dialogue about the relationship between MMR and paradigms by analyzing two main claims discussed in the literature: (a) MMR is a new paradigm and (b) MMR mixes different paradigms. Focusing on the notion of paradigms used to support each claim, it clarifies why MMR can be considered a new paradigm and discusses conditions under which it is possible to mix two or more paradigms within a single study. This clarification promotes a more clear-cut use of concepts such as paradigms and worldviews in the literature.