¿Necesitamos bases filosóficas y epistemológicas para la investigación con Métodos Combinados?

In the last decade, Mixed – Methods approach was developed, surrounded by agrowing community of mixed researchers. Those contrary to the integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches seem to have lost the debate on the incompatibility thesis, which lasted for several decades. But Mixed – Methods research still lacks several important definitions. One of them, the philosophy and epistemology underlying this research strategy. Several options are discussed in this paper. The most frequent philosophical basis is pragmatism, but other choices can be considered as well. Nonetheless, the key question raised is if we inevitably need to establish rigid philosophical basis. It may be inevitable to hold a philosophical point of view, but at the same time the practice of research could benefit from flexible relationship between abstract assumptions and practical research decisions. En la última década se conformó la perspectiva de Métodos Combinados («Mixed – Methods») desde la literatura en inglés, en torno a una creciente comunidad de investigadores. En este marco, las posiciones contrarias a la integración de los abordajes cuanti y cualitativos, resumidas en la tesis de la incompatibilidad, parecen haber perdido una discusión que llevaba algunas décadas. Sin embargo, restan definiciones conceptuales para la investigación con Métodos Combinados. Una de ellas, la de las bases filosóficas y epistemológicas que sustentan este tipo de investigación: varias opciones se discuten en ese sentido. El pragmatismo ha sido una alternativa frecuente, así como existen otras aproximaciones. De todos modos, la pregunta final es si de hecho necesitamos establecer rígidamente una base filosófica fija. Si bien es inevitable asumir un punto de partida filosófico, es probable que la práctica de investigación mejore si la relación entre los presupuestos abstractos y las decisiones prácticas es flexible.In the last decade, Mixed – Methods approach was developed, surrounded by a growing community of mixed researchers. Those contrary to the integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches seem to have lost the debate on the incompatibility thesis, which lasted for several decades. But Mixed – Methods research still lacks several important definitions. One of them, the philosophy and epistemology underlying this research strategy. Several options are discussed in this paper. The most frequent philosophical basis is pragmatism, but other choices can be considered as well. Nonetheless, the key question raised is if we inevitably need to establish rigid philosophical basis. It may be inevitable to hold a philosophical point of view, but at the same time the practice of research could benefit from flexible relationship between abstract assumptions and practical research decisions