The evaluation of national and international development projects faces increasing pressure to provide robust evidence of impact while simultaneously offering rich, contextualized explanations of ihow/i and iwhy/i change occurs. Traditional mono-method approaches, whether purely quantitative or qualitative, often fall short of meeting this dual mandate, particularly in complex social interventions. This article aims to address this gap by providing a scholarly yet practical guide for evaluators on the systematic application of mixed methods research (MMR) designs across the entire evaluation lifecycle of the project, i.e., baseline, midline, and endline. We define the conceptual foundations of MMR in development contexts, detail a typology of designs (convergent, sequential, embedded, longitudinal), and offer a stage-specific framework for their application. Emphasis is placed on the critical process of integration from data collection to analysis, using techniques such as joint displays and narrative causal explanations. Furthermore, we provide in-depth guidance on tool development, sampling strategies, and the integrated reporting of findings. This study discusses the challenges of conducting longitudinal Mixed Methods Evaluations and the ethical issues surrounding these evaluations. We will also look at some of the implications that this type of evaluation has for donors, evaluators, and future research in methodology. This study is designed to provide practical applications and examples to help improve the quality, relevance, and usefulness of those who evaluate development work.
Peshal Puri (Fri,) studied this question.