Mixed Methods Research Prevalence Studies

The Journal of Mixed Methods Research (JMMR) has always welcomed two main kinds of manuscripts: original empirical articles and methodological/theoretical articles (Creswell & Tashakkori, 2007; Fetters & Freshwater, 2015a;Mertens, 2011).Both types of articles must clearly state methodological aims, review mixed methods literature relative to the methodological aim, and advance the field of mixed methods-empirical articles must address integration (Fetters & Freshwater, 2015b).In this editorial, our purpose is to provide insight into a specific type of methodological/theoretical article welcome at the journal, namely, mixed methods research (MMR) prevalence studies.Our purpose here is to situate where MMR prevalence studies fit into the overall MMR methodological literature and to review essential elements needed in rigorous MMR prevalence articles to be successful at JMMR. Situating Mixed Methods Research Prevalence Studies in the MMR Methodology SpectrumCreswell (2009) identified five MMR methodology domains: philosophical and theoretical issues, techniques of mixed methods, nature of mixed methods, adoption and use of mixed methods, and politicization of mixed methods.As indicated by Alise and Teddlie (2010), MMR prevalence studies fall within the fourth domain (adoption and use of mixed methods).Researchers conduct MMR prevalence studies to examine the frequency of MMR use in specific disciplines and determine the prevalence rates of mixed methods studies as a percentage of all studies, or as proportion of mixed methods, quantitative, and qualitative studies.While Creswell and Plano Clark (2007) reported in 2007 that MMR studies had been carefully reviewed only in a handful of disciplines and fields, several prevalence studies have now been published in JMMR on nursing, education, sociology, and psychology (Alise & Teddlie, 2010), mathematics education (Hart, Smith, Swars, & Smith, 2009), management (Molina-Azorin, 2011), childhood trauma (Boeije, Slagt, & van Wesel, 2013), sports management