On the necessity for a third generation in mixed method design, theory, and research: overcoming the burden of the incompatibility thesis between qualitative and quantitative research

In this paper I strive for overcoming the burden of the incompatibility thesisbetween qualitative and quantitative research a I call for a third generation in mixedmethod design, theory, and research. I will, first, outline the presumed differencesbetween QL and QN methods; second, review briefly how mixed methods researchershave attempted to deal with these differences; third, critically assess and subsequentlyreject the tenability of these differences; and, fourth, propose steps toward a thirdgeneration of mixed methods literature and practices. Ultimately, I will argue that contemporarymixed methods design, research, and theory currently lack a good groundingand that an alternative grounding will not only improve the justification for mixedmethods research, but it will also broaden its scope and improve its practice.