Editorial Mixed Methods Research in the Health Sciences

Mixed methods research is undertaken in a wide range of fields, such as education,psychology, social sciences, and health sciences. The acceptance of this approach, levels of understanding, and ways in which methods are combined, may differ by research field. This makes it important to reflect on the state of methodological development within specific research fields as well as at a more macro mixed methods level. There may also be methodological developments in one field, which can benefit researchers in other fields. Health sciences is an interesting field to consider because mixed methods research is com-monly used (O’Cathain, Murphy, & Nicholl, 2007) and has been the focus of discussions for many years (Baum, 1995; Morse, 1991). Here I consider how mixed methods research has developed in the health sciences, and the contribution this field has made to the wider mixed methods research endeavor. The health sciences field can encompass a wide range of research communities—public health, nursing, health promotion, health informatics, health services research, medical research, professions allied to medicine, and more. Each of these communities has a dif-ferent history, value set, and preference for addressing different types of research ques-tions, making it a challenge to consider the state of mixed methods research within th