This paper questions the idea that there are two opposing paradigms of educational research, often called positivist versus interpretivist. It argues that the 'paradigm' term has been used to avoid philosophical discussions about the nature of educational research. This has been done by understanding 'paradigms' to reflect metaphysical positions…

Research approaches are general techniques that researchers follow when conducting a study. Employing research approaches in information research is noted to vary from one researcher to another based on the investigator's choice as well as the nature of the topic under investigation. The differences in the use of research approaches in information…

Mixed Methods Research (MMR) is growing rapidly, globally, and continues to develop across disciplines. A competency-based course design can better help develop mixed methods research scholars with competency-based learning outcomes. MMR-specific guidance, which informs meaningful design features for competency-based learning outcomes in graduate…

Theories of causation in philosophy ask what makes causal claims true and establish the so-called truth conditions allowing one to separate causal from noncausal relationships. We argue that social scientists should be aware of truth conditions of causal claims because they imply which method of causal inference can establish whether a specific…

Mixed methods approaches are increasing advocated for researching complex problems in the social sciences, but they are not widely used by postgraduate students of public management. This article describes a study where qualitative and quantitative methods lecturers worked collaboratively to design and teach both methodology courses in an…

Mixed methods research (MMR) can support enhanced understanding of complex educational issues, like the inclusion and support of individuals with disabilities in community and school settings. In this systematic review, we explored the extent to which MMR has been used in research exclusively focused on disability across special education (SPED),…

The incorporation of evidence derived from multiple research designs into one single synthesis can enhance the utility of systematic reviews making them more worthwhile, useful, and insightful. Methodological guidance for mixed-methods synthesis continues to emerge and evolve but broadly involves a sequential, parallel, or convergent approach…

How does a researcher investigate phenomena that continually emerge through, with and as various practices? This paper explores this question, drawing on transformative reflections on the unfolding process of an empirical research project investigating professional practice in Dutch early childhood education. The project initially applied an open,…

Research seeking to understand and improve social conditions for marginalized youth would benefit from merging complex mixed methods research designs emphasizing multilevel data and participatory social justice principles. We contribute to mixed methods research by introducing a novel framework that accomplishes this task and by illustrating its…

Mixed-methods (MM) designs have gained increasing interest in educational research. Still, many studies collect quantitative and qualitative data but report these data separately and do not attempt to integrate them in practice. The aim of this article is to discuss the purposes and processes of integrating qualitative and quantitative data in an…

This open access book discusses challenges in school improvement research and different methodological approaches that have the potential to foster school improvement research. Research on school improvement and accountability analysis places high demands on a study's design and method. The potential of combining the depth of case studies with the…

The aim of this article is to present an alternative method for science mapping, which remedies some of the classic limitations to e.g. using co-citation analysis as a mapping tool. With the emergence of new, more complex and interdisciplinary areas of research it becomes important to adjust our understandings of how to study these areas, and the…

In educational sciences, 90s were the scene of the paradigmatic wars, as the researchers of quantitative or qualitative research only defended the ideas of the type of research they used and they constantly criticized the counter-paradigm. While this struggle is going on, mixed method research has emerged, a pragmatist approach that believes both…

Consisting of brief and evocative scenarios, vignettes effectively elicit stimulus responses, examine individual cognitions, and explore novel or sensitive topics. While information and communication technologies have expanded research methods, methodological and ethical considerations for design and implementation of digital vignettes necessitate…

This case study highlights three processes in conducting a Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) research on comparative curricular and professional experiential outcomes in an online curriculum development course. In the original study, I compared the results of expected learning outcomes, as defined in a curriculum course syllabus, with…