Aligning theory and methodology in mixed methods research: Before Design Theoretical Placement

• Published in: International Journal of Social Research Methodology Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 527 - 540
• Main Authors: Alavi, Mousa, Archibald, Mandy, McMaster, Rose, Lopez, Violeta, Cleary, Michelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 03.09.2018; Informa UK Limited; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Design; Guides; Health science; Health sciences; knowledge generation; Methods Research; Mixed Methods Research; Professional knowledge; Research Design; Research methodology; Researcher subject relations; Researchers; Social research; Theories; Theory Practice Relationship
• ISSN: 1364-5579; 1464-5300
• DOI: 10.1080/13645579.2018.1435016

When a theoretical framework (and its components) is not clearly linked to research methods, researchers risk designing flawed studies, wherein the stated research question is inconsistent with the research design. Explicitly identifying one's theoretical orientation can provide an orderly schematic for linking observations from separate investigations (i.e. qualitative, quantitative) thereby facilitating understandings and guiding research designs particularly in fields of social and health sciences where complex phenomena are an aspect of the subject of inquiry. Although this has been established, how researchers might position their research theoretically to guide mixed methods research is less clear. In this paper, we propose the Before Design Theoretical Placement as a general guide for specifying and locating studies in a broader theoretical grounding, and discuss how it may inform overall study considerations. We then use this approach to illustrate how theories and methods can work together to facilitate professional knowledge development from a relational perspective.