Chapter 5: A Call for Mixed Analysis Among Stress and Coping Researchers: Deconstructing Separatist Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis in Mixed Research

The process of mixed research—involving “mix[ing] or combin[ing] quantitative and qualitative research techniques, methods, approaches, concepts or language into a single study” (Johnson & Onwuegbuzie, 2004, p. 17)— has developed a long way since Campbell and Fiske (1959) coined the term multiple operationalism, wherein more than one method is used as part of a validation process to help ensure that the variance explained culminates from the underlying phenomenon or trait and is not a function of the method. However, most of the biggest formalized developments in mixed research have occurred within the last 25 years, being given impetus in the 1980s by several prominent researchers (e.g., Brewer & Hunter, 1989; Bry- man, 1988; Greene, Caracelli, & Graham, 1989; Jick, 1983; Kidder & Fine, 1987; Louis, 1982; Madey, 1982; Mark & Shotland, 1987; Maxwell, Bashook, & Sandlow, 1986; Phelan, 1987; Rossman & Wilson, 1985), who called for the integration of quantitative and qualitative approaches. However, the last few years have witnessed a significant increase in the number of mixed research studies, marked by a handbook on mixed methods (Tashakkori & Teddlie, 2003); several mixed research textbooks (e.g., Bergman, 2008; Collins, Onwuegbuzie, & Jiao, this volume; Creswell & Plano Clark, 2007; Greene, 2007; Johnson & Christensen, 2008; Onwuegbuzie, Collins, & Leech, in press; Plano Clark & Creswell, 2007; Ridenour & Newman, 2008; Teddlie & Tashakkori, 2009); several mixed research articles contained in methodological handbooks (e.g., Onwuegbuzie, Slate, Leech, & Collins, in press; Teddlie, Tashakkori, & Johnson, 2008); mixed research articles contained in encyclopedias (e.g., Onwuegbuzie, 2007); two journals devoted to mixed research (i.e., Journal of Mixed Methods Research, International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches); several journals now routinely publishing mixed research (e.g., Field Methods, Educational Evaluation & Policy Analysis, Quality & Quantity, Evaluation, Evaluation Practice, Research in Nursing & Health, Research in the Schools, The Qualitative Report); and websites (e.g., http://www.fiu.edu/~bridges/), conferences (e.g., http://www.mixed-methods.leeds.ac.uk/), and workshops (Creswell & Plano Clark, 2008; Mertens, 2008; O’Cathain, 2008; Onwuegbuzie & Collins, 2008; Onwueg- buzie, Slate, Leech, & Collins, 2008) devoted to mixed research, as well as by the several special issues published and planned for publication (Gorard & Smith, 2006; Johnson, 2006; Leech, Onwuegbuzie, Hansson, & Robinson, 2010; O’Cathain, & Collins, 2009). These and other sources have helped to increase the visibility of mixed research.