Table 3.

Multiple methods used and their contribution to the project

	Advantages	Limitations
Interviews	Relatively easy to organise and carry out.	Reliant on ability of participant to recall information.
	Researcher can probe to clarify meanings or obtain depth of information.	Provides only one perspective so sample needs to incorporate diversity.
Observations	Produces real time data, not reliant on accurate recall.	Time consuming; researcher needs to spend long periods of time in the setting.
	Researchers can validate or question information obtained from other methods.	Much of data repetitive; can only report events happening during the observation period.
Digital Diaries	Allows participants to provide recent data without interaction of researcher.	Some participant reluctance to speak into an audio-recorder.
	Participants can choose when to participate.	Researchers unable to probe to find meaning in data.
Focus Groups	Encourages interaction between participants which can stimulate further discussion.	Reliant on ability of participant to recall information and have the confidence to contribute to a discussion.
	Facilitates discussion of shared experiences such as workplace culture or service user issues.	Requires sufficient numbers of participants available at the same time.
Stakeholder workshops	Allows participants and other stakeholders to discuss and provide feedback on findings.	Requires large, accessible venue and adequate facilities.
	Allows group prioritisation of implications for research and intervention.	Requires sufficient numbers of participants available at the same time.