TY - JOUR
T1 - A DNA Helix Analogy for Interdependent Mixed Methods Research
T2 - Enabling Cross-Fertilizations and Interim Meta-Inferences
AU - Polyviou, Ariana
AU - Pouloudi, Nancy
AU - Pramatari, Katerina
AU - Silva, Leiser O.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024, Association for Information Systems. All rights reserved.
PY - 2024/11
Y1 - 2024/11
N2 - Mixed methods enable a more integrated and insightful understanding of the phenomena we study, but are complex to plan, execute, and document. This applies to concurrent and fully integrated mixed methods research designs in particular, which remain underrepresented in information systems research. In this paper, we extend the prevailing templates for this type of research and propose a new conceptualization. We argue that different research strands (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, computationally intensive, or other) that unfold at the same time need not be independent. Rather, as they run concurrently, they can interact and inform each other through ongoing cross-fertilization. This offers the opportunity for enhanced validation and deeper research insights. We conceptualize how the interaction between the research strands may unfold and we propose a DNA helix analogy to enable and enhance the conceptualization of such interdependent mixed methods research. We further explain the mechanism through which the different research strands interact in an ongoing cross-fertilization, and how interim meta-inferences may be continuously and incrementally drawn, (re)shaping how each research strand evolves. The research process within this conceptualization is depicted in a flow diagram that can serve as a possible roadmap for this type of research. We also show how this process can be documented, contributing to more transparent accounts of how mixed methods research actually evolves. We refer to our research on cloud adoption as an example and further validate our proposed research design with interviews with junior and experienced researchers engaged in mixed methods research. We conclude with a set of principles to guide interdependent mixed methods research and present their practical implications.
AB - Mixed methods enable a more integrated and insightful understanding of the phenomena we study, but are complex to plan, execute, and document. This applies to concurrent and fully integrated mixed methods research designs in particular, which remain underrepresented in information systems research. In this paper, we extend the prevailing templates for this type of research and propose a new conceptualization. We argue that different research strands (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, computationally intensive, or other) that unfold at the same time need not be independent. Rather, as they run concurrently, they can interact and inform each other through ongoing cross-fertilization. This offers the opportunity for enhanced validation and deeper research insights. We conceptualize how the interaction between the research strands may unfold and we propose a DNA helix analogy to enable and enhance the conceptualization of such interdependent mixed methods research. We further explain the mechanism through which the different research strands interact in an ongoing cross-fertilization, and how interim meta-inferences may be continuously and incrementally drawn, (re)shaping how each research strand evolves. The research process within this conceptualization is depicted in a flow diagram that can serve as a possible roadmap for this type of research. We also show how this process can be documented, contributing to more transparent accounts of how mixed methods research actually evolves. We refer to our research on cloud adoption as an example and further validate our proposed research design with interviews with junior and experienced researchers engaged in mixed methods research. We conclude with a set of principles to guide interdependent mixed methods research and present their practical implications.
KW - Concurrent Mixed Methods Research
KW - Cross-Fertilization
KW - DNA Helix
KW - Interdependent Mixed Methods Research
KW - Interim Meta-Inferences
KW - Mixed Methods
KW - Recursive Research
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85210842644&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.17705/1jais.00902
DO - 10.17705/1jais.00902
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85210842644
SN - 1558-3457
VL - 25
SP - 1585
EP - 1627
JO - Journal of the Association for Information Systems
JF - Journal of the Association for Information Systems
IS - 6
M1 - 4
ER -