A World of Possibilities in Mixed Methods: Review of the Combinations of Strategies Used to Integrate Qualitative and Quantitative Phases, Results and Data

Mixed methods (MM) are increasingly popular.Researchers integrate qualitative (QUAL) and quantitative (QUAN) methods (e.g., research questions, data collections and analyses, and results).Several integration strategies have been proposed, but their conceptualization is usually design-driven, or fragmented, or not empirically tested.This is challenging for planning and conducting MM studies, and for training graduate students.Based on the methodological literature, we developed a conceptual framework including types of integration and practical strategies, and possible combinations.Then, we tested this framework using 93 health-related 2015 MM studies with a method-detailed description, which illustrated all types of combinations.Our work contributes to advance methodological knowledge on MM via (a) a call for better reporting health-related MM studies, and (b) a tested conceptualisation comprising 3 types of integration and 9 specific strategies, which explain current and future possibilities for combining strategies to integrate QUAL and QUAN phases, results, and data.