DEFINING AND ASSESSING THE VALUE OF CANONICAL MIXED METHODS RESEARCH DESIGNS IN PUBLIC POLICY AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Richwine, Chelsea; Luo, Qian Eric; Thorkildsen, Zoe; Chong, Nicholas J.; Morris, Rebecca; Barnow, Burt S.; Pandey, Sanjay K.
• 署名单位: George Washington University; George Washington University; George Washington University; George Washington University; George Washington University; George Washington University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF POLICY ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1520-6771
• DOI: 10.1002/pam.22392
• 发表日期: 2022
• 页码: 891-920
• 关键词: systematic reviews; QUALITY; state

摘要

Mixed methods research (MMR) designs are well suited for answering policy-relevant questions, yet they remain underutilized in public policy and public administration scholarship. To provide a deeper understanding of the effective use of such designs, this article examines the prevalence of MMR in public policy and public administration journals, drawing a key distinction between canonical and non-canonical MMR. Canonical mixed methods studies are characterized by (1) an explicit rationale for using mixed methods (i.e., a clear connection between methodological decisions and research questions), (2) effective integration of qualitative and quantitative strands, and (3) design transparency. We demonstrate the value of a canonical approach in public policy and public administration research by highlighting differences in quality between canonical and non-canonical mixed methods studies. Our findings indicate that a canonical approach to mixed methods research makes positive contributions to methodological quality and knowledge development.