Mixed methods research in library and information science: A methodological review

Abstract

Mixed methods research is gaining prominence in the library and information science (LIS) discipline. However, according to previous analyses, few LIS studies utilized mixed methods research, and the researchers did not recognize or describe them as such. The present methodological review assesses the current state of mixed methods research in LIS. Eighty-four articles published between 2017 and 2018 and indexed in two core LIS databases, match the common definition of mixed methods. Out of those, 65 articles self-identified as mixed methods were analyzed focusing on reporting and conduct, specifically, the integration of quantitative and qualitative components. Review results suggest that more efforts are needed to raise awareness about using and reporting mixed methods research in LIS. This review provides guidance for future work and contributes to the discussion on how we can further improve methodological rigor, research training, and reproducibility in LIS.