Innovation in Mixed Methods Research: A Practical Guide to Integrative Thinking with Complexity

Explaining both why and how to use mixed methods for discovering solutions to complex research problems, this guide gives readers the tools to adapt approaches to suit their own research conditions. Written in a warm, encouraging tone and packed with helpful diagrams and visual organizers, it provides an easy-to-follow map to the mixed methods process, covering everything from ‘what is mixed methods research?’ to framing, integrating, and describing a complexity-sensitive mixed methods approach. Features include: Key questions to navigate the important concepts of each chapter Practice alerts to provide practical tips on working in the field Chapter check-ins to assess development of key skills Further reading to expand and deepen knowledge of mixed methods practices An annotated glossary to get to grips with foundational terms and revise for exams Supported throughout by real-world examples and advice from the author and other mixed methods experts, this book helps readers succeed in their projects and think innovatively about the methods they use. 

Table of Contents:
Part I: Getting Started with Essential Foundations Chapter 1: Embracing Complexity in Mixed Methods Research Purpose and Need for the Book Positioning Myself Defining Conditions of Complexity and Innovations for Practice Audiences for the Book Organization and Learning Features Selection of Six Featured Mixed Methods Studies Chapter 2: Positioning Demand for Innovation in Complex Mixed Methods Research Why Use Mixed Methods Research? What Distinguishes Mixed Methods Research? Key Practice Dilemmas Under Highly Complex Conditions Demand for Innovations and Innovators in Mixed Methods Research Survey of Six Featured Mixed Methods Studies Chapter 3: Advancing Integrative Thinking with Complexity in Mixed Methods Research Why Integrative Thinking with Complexity in Mixed Methods Research? Examples of Complex Adaptive Systems Under Study Opportunities Afforded by Complexity Science for Mixed Methods Researchers Indicators of Integrative Thinking with Complexity in Mixed Methods Research Indicators of Six Featured Mixed Methods Studies Guiding Practices for Integrative Thinking with Complexity in Mixed Methods Research Part II: Realizing Innovation in Guiding Practices Chapter 4: Diagnosing Complexity of Mixed Methods Research Conditions Why Diagnose Complexity of Mixed Methods Research Conditions? Diagnosing Opportunities and Hazards for Mixed Methods Researchers Guiding Procedures for Diagnosing Five Complexity Dimensions of Research Conditions Features that Engage Readers with Research Conditions Innovations in Diagnosing Complexity of Mixed Methods Research Conditions Chapter 5: Framing Intentions of Complex Mixed Methods Research Problems Why Frame Intentions of Complex Mixed Methods Research Problems? Framing Opportunities and Hazards for Mixed Methods Researchers An Iterative Process for Framing Complex Mixed Methods Research Problems Features that Engage Readers with Complex Research Problems Innovations in Framing Complex Mixed Methods Research Problems Chapter 6: Defining Systems of Complex Mixed Methods Research Contexts Why Define Systems of Complex Mixed Methods Research Contexts? Defining Opportunities and Hazards for Mixed Methods Researchers Relational Systems Approach to Defining Complex Mixed Methods Research Contexts Features that Engage Readers with Complex Research Contexts Innovations in Defining Complex Mixed Methods Research Contexts Chapter 7: Describing Designs of Complex Mixed Methods Research Integrations Why Describe Designs of Complex Mixed Methods Research Integrations? Describing Opportunities and Hazards for Mixed Methods Researchers A Descriptive Design Approach for Complex Mixed Methods Research Integrations Features that Engage Readers with Complex Mixed Methods Research Integrations Innovations in Describing Complex Mixed Methods Research Integrations Chapter 8: Developing Capacity for Complex Mixed Methods Research Interactions Why Develop Capacity in Complex Mixed Methods Research Interactions? Developing Opportunities and Hazards for Mixed Methods Researchers A Strategy for Developing Complex Mixed Methods Research Interactions Features that Engage Readers with Complex Mixed Methods Research Interactions Innovations in Developing Complex Mixed Methods Research Interactions Chapter 9: Generating Evidence of Complex Mixed Methods Research Outcomes Why Generate Evidence of Complex Mixed Methods Research Outcomes? Generating Opportunities and Hazards for Mixed Methods Researchers A Generative Evidence Approach for Complex Mixed Methods Research Outcome Features that Engage Readers with Complex Mixed Methods Research Outcomes Innovations in Generating Evidence of Complex Mixed Methods Research Outcomes Part III: Onward Considerations for Adaptive Practices Chapter 10: Realizing Complexity-Sensitive Mixed Methods Research The Case for Complexity-Sensitive Mixed Methods Research Potential Challenges for Complexity-Sensitive Mixed Methods Researchers Some Final Guiding Words

About the Author :
Cheryl N. Poth, PhD, is a Professor in the Faculty of Education and faculty member of the research-intensive Centre for Research and Applied Measurement and Evaluation at the University of Alberta. In this role, she has developed and taught graduate-level research methods and program evaluation courses in addition to supervising and mentoring students, faculty, and local as well as global community members in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research. She is the author of over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, three books as well as numerous book chapters. Her work has been recognized by the American Educational Research Association with the Division D Significant Contributions to Research Methodology Award in 2023 (with Peggy Shannon-Baker) and by the Textbook & Academic Authors Association with the Most Promising New Textbook Award in 2020 and the McGuffey Longevity Award for Qualitative Research book in 2018 (with John Creswell). She served as Editor of the SAGE Handbook of Mixed Methods Research (2023) and as Guest Coeditor of several journal special issues, including the International Journal of Qualitative Methods. In addition to more than 40 invited talks and 150 conference presentations, she has led research methods workshops with diverse audiences on four continents. She served as an Advisory Board Member of the International Institute of Qualitative Methodology (2014–2020); the President of the Mixed Methods International Research Association (2017–2018); a Research Fellow at the University of South Africa (2018–2020); a Helen Glass Scholar in the College of Nursing within the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba (2022); and as a MERIT Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University (2023–2025). In 2009, she cofounded the interdisciplinary Alberta Clinical and Community-Based Evaluation Research Team to advance innovative community–university research partnership supports for program planning and impact assessments of service delivery for individuals with complex needs. She serves as the Methodologist on several cross-disciplinary research teams and has led federally, provincially, and locally funded research projects. She is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Mixed Methods Research and is an editorial board member of several journals. Updates on her work can be found on her website at https://sites.google.com/ualberta.ca/cheryl-poth/.

Review :
Big data and increasingly sophisticated research challenges mean that we can no longer rely on ‘off the shelf’ methodologies. This book is essential reading for anyone engaging in mixed methods work, offering a positive call to action and essential guidance. Cogent, practical, and based on extensive experience—this book will be especially useful to researchers navigating the space between the ideal research designs they were taught and the realities on the ground. Poth’s framing of complex mixed methods problems reflects the importance of visualising and mapping out complex situations in research. This book acts as a particularly useful tool for developing this key skill as a mixed method researcher. Professor Poth’s new book takes the reader on a journey of discovery into the world of mixed methods. This easy to read resource provides the nuances required to undertake good mixed methods studies. The book is a must-have for novice and seasoned researchers alike. Dr. Poth provides a helpful balance of theoretical and practical guidance for new scholars seeking to pursue mixed methods research. Her book, which provides concrete examples illustrating the steps involved in navigating complex research projects, is an invaluable resource for students.  Balancing theory, her experiences, and diverse examples spanning social sciences, Dr. Poth simultaneously initiates readers to mixed methods and explores design complexities that will illuminate many emerging and established scholars. Her accessible, thorough, well-paced text accounts for what, why, and how. Eschewing prescription, she welcomes adaptation in mixed methods research. Mixed methods research is well established in the literature yet there exists much diversity across many areas and a lack of consensus within the field... This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction into the field. This book is a good guide for anyone doing complex, multi-phase research, where there are interlinking social and institutional uncertainties and imperfect knowledge about their nature and solutions [...] Poth describes six adaptive practices to help researchers respond to unfolding conditions in complex social research. She says that the traditional mixed methods approach is limiting and that we need to be more flexible when research is complex, multi-layered and when there are many uncertainties.