Multimethodology in Qualitative Social Science Research: Applications, Best Practices, and New Frontiers

Although the growing literature on qualitative research methods has been valuable in demonstrating the diversity of available tools, relatively little work has sought to map how they can complement one another in a systematic way. At different stages of research process each method has distinctive characteristics, including its suitability for studying particular social phenomena, its flexibility in application, and its limitations. To provide a practical guideline, we explain how researchers can combine qualitative methods to meet the demands of contemporary social science inquiry, with particular attention to data generation and data analysis. More specifically, we explain how qualitative tools can be utilized most effectively in different combinations across the entire research process. By drawing on an original dataset that examines published research in academic outlets, our study aims to identify best practices, spot prevalent shortcomings, and offer possible solutions and future directions for multimethod research.