Using Mixed Methods Research to Explore User Loyalty in Selected Academic Libraries in Ghana With an Emphasis on Rigorousness

Abstract

In recent times, there has been a progressive increase in the use of mixed methods research design among library and information science (LIS) researchers. While this observation is encouraging, the challenge that needs to be resolved by stakeholders is the quality of the findings of these studies. Just as studies that use qualitative or quantitative research designs have quality indicators, studies that are guided by mixed methods research designs should also be measured with appropriate quality indicators. Methodological rigor (how rigorous a study is conducted) has thus become a keen focus in mixed methods research. This chapter is a report on the experience of how rigor was achieved in a Ph.D. thesis that used an exploratory sequential mixed methods research design to explore strategies for building user loyalty in selected academic libraries in Ghana. This chapter contributes to the debate on mixed methods research in LIS by highlighting basic rigor indicators.