More than just a method: doctoral students' perspectives on the place of qualitatively driven mixed methods

Although the debate on mixed methods continues, it is felt that there is a new generation of researchers that take a pragmatist approach to research. We present the viewpoint of three doctoral students at different stages of our PhD research, whereby we advocate for the recognition and place of qualitatively driven mixed methods and take a pragmatist stance towards method/ology. We recognise the value and prominence of such a position, and describe our individual experiences, which have been influenced and transformed by such ‘paradigm wars’, and demonstrate our persistence in attempting to transcend these wars to ensure that our research is primarily informed by the research question, followed by the choosing of the most suitable method, and not the contrary