Sociology
Sequential Mixed-Methods Designs for Studying Social Phenomena
Quick fact
Sequential mixed-methods designs are so common in major social science surveys that they are a standard approach: a quantitative phase such as a national survey is followed by in-depth interviews with a subsample of respondents. This sequence lets researchers not only measure patterns but also understand the meanings and mechanisms behind them, something that a single-method study cannot achieve.
Why this is interesting
You've probably read a surprising statistic about human behavior and wondered, 'But what does that actually look like in people's lives?' Sequential mixed-methods research is how social scientists get both the big picture and the personal stories behind it.