LAUSR

The theme for the concept map was identified based on the paper of Tseng et al. (2023) in this issue of Medical Teacher. Mixed method research (MMR) as used by Tseng et al. (2023) is frequently called a third research movement (Teddlie and Tashakkori 2009) and is often described as an intuitive approach that more naturally mirrors people’s daily lives. Health professionals, for example, already have some experience with mixing methods because they regularly gather patient information through patient interviews, physical exams, and diagnostic tests to make diagnoses and treatment decisions. When first asked what MMR is, some might describe mixed-methods as a study that includes qualitative and quantitative data. However, this limited perspective reduces MMR to types of data. Cresswell and Plano Clark et al. (Cresswell and Plano Clark 2018a, 2018b) define MMR as including the collection and analysis of data drawing from qualitative and quantitative approaches, organizing these approaches using specific designs, integrating findings, and framing these procedures within theoretical and philosophical perspectives. Determining when and when not to use mixed methods requires careful and thoughtful deliberation about why mixing might better serve the study’s overall purpose (Greene 2007). Some common reasons include triangulation, a need for more complete findings, a need to explain initial findings, or a need to explore first and then examine the regularity of those findings across a broader population (Cresswell and Plano Clark 2018a, 2018b). Consider the following examples: