The paradigm wars and the incompatibility thesis live on: Trends and adequacy in the use of mixed methods research in the Ghana Journal of Development Studies

Abstract

Despite the potential of mixed methods research (MMR) in providing a comprehensive picture of development issues, its pervasiveness and use in development studies is limited. This paper examines the use of MMR as reflected in contributions to the Ghana Journal of Development Studies (GJDS). Based on a rapid review and content analysis of 105 articles, published in the GJDS over the period 2010 to 2017, this paper illustrates there is an inadequate use of MMR among the community of researchers contributing articles to the GJDS. Specifically, only 16 percent of journal articles used MMR, whereas 52 percent and 32 percent used solely quantitative and qualitative approaches, respectively. The huge use of mono-methods and the paucity of MMR in the field of development studies suggest that the ‘paradigm wars’ and the ‘incompatibility thesis’ are not over. Eighty-six percent of articles that reportedly used MMR did not mention the purposes for employing it, explain the typologies of its designs used, the stages, or even the way the qualitative and quantitative data were integrated.