TABLE 1.

Methodological issues to consider when conducing MMR research

Issues to consider	Questions to ask
1. Sample size	What sample size is appropriate for research addressed?
	○ Sample size is likely to vary between quantitative and qualitative work due to practical concerns like money, time, effort, and the main purposes of the study.
	○ A targeted or deliberate sample often better meets study objectives in qualitative work, whereas a large sample is necessary for quantitative work. One must consider trade-offs in sample size when deciding which method should take priority in the chosen design
2. Participant burden	What burden is placed on participants?
	○ If collecting both qualitative and quantitative data, do both kinds of data need to be collected from the same individuals?
	○ A researcher must consider what issues could arise if data are collected from different participants
3. Analysis and interpretative issues	What to consider when analyzing the data?
	○ One must consider how analysis of different types of data can strengthen the collection and analysis of the other data type, and plan the study accordingly
	○ One must also recognize that study design may need to change midstudy based on early findings.
4. Transparency	What to report?
	○ For each design, one must report how the mixed-methods study design addressed shortcomings often associated with single-method studies
	○ For sequential designs, how did the results in the first phase inform research processes in the second phase?
	○ For concurrent designs, how was data integrated, especially if the findings diverged?
	○ For data-transformation designs, was richness and depth that was associated with the qualitative approach lost when data were transformed? If so, does this loss affect study outcomes?