Mixing Up Methods: A Recipe for Success or Disaster?

Abstract

The increase in the number of occupational therapists training and doing research at undergraduate and post-graduate degree level
has led to an exciting growth in research capacity within our profession. My experiences of doing research and in supervising students
have raised questions about which methodologies students should be able to apply at the beginning of their research careers. In this
opinion piece I argue that concurrent mixed-methods research designs across more than one research paradigm are inappropriate for
undergraduate and Masters-level research, because of issues with integration, transparency, and the time taken to develop the sufficient
research expertise required for this methodology.

Keywords: Mixed-methods, study design