Mixed methods research in project management

The inspiration for this chapter derives from a passion for mixed methods research (MMR) and many years of teaching and providing capacity building in mixed methods to novice and experienced researchers alike. Other management fields have started adopting mixed methods in their research. PM needs to keep up, as we naturally think qualitatively and quantitatively to solve problems we encounter in projects. The aim of this chapter is to provide doctoral students with a broad-brush view of mixed methods research (MMR) and to place MMR historically and paradigmatically against the paradigm wars of the 1970s. This will provide an historical context for MMR's growing popularity and utility across many disciplines and fields of inquiry. The chapter defines MMR and provides a discussion on the paradigmatic stances, designs, typologies and notation systems of MMR. It reviews MMR prevalence studies. The chapter includes tips for supervisors and researchers/students and exercises to assist those new to MMR in a practical and applied sense. At the end of this chapter, the reader can: • define MMR and the associated mix ed methods notation system; • recognise the need for those utilising MMR to position themselves paradigmatically and explicitly articulating the rationale for using MMR designs; • apply the good reporting of a mixed methods research (GRAMMS) framework when reporting an MMR study