Mixed Methods Research in Criminology
- LAST REVIEWED: 26 October 2023
- LAST MODIFIED: 26 October 2023
- DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780195396607-0330
- LAST REVIEWED: 26 October 2023
- LAST MODIFIED: 26 October 2023
- DOI: 10.1093/obo/9780195396607-0330
Introduction
Research methods provide the infrastructure and means to produce valid and reliable knowledge. These methods guide and structure the process through which scholars conceptualize, implement, conduct, analyze, and disseminate scholarly efforts. They help shed empirical light on motivations, individual behaviors, group- and community-level dynamics, complex social processes, and structural-level currents. To empirically capture this complexity, the field of criminal justice/criminology (and, more broadly, social sciences) has developed and established a diverse set of methodological tools. Historically, research efforts have used quantitative or qualitative methods, each informed by different philosophical assumptions, research designs, strategies, data collection techniques, forms of analysis, and pedagogical goals. A rigid adherence to mono-method practices has led to paradigm conflicts between quantitative and qualitative research. Each side posits that their approach to generating knowledge stem from different philosophical and epistemological roots. On the one hand, quantitative research emphasizes positivism, objectivity, deductive reasoning, precise quantification, value neutrality, and fact finding through empirical replication. On the other hand, qualitative research promotes interpretivism, subjectivity, inductive reasoning, empathy, socially constructed realities, and value-informed interpretations. The argument follows that, given such differences, quantitative and qualitative methods are incompatible and therefore should remain separate. Despite these exclusive boundaries the tendency to combine—or mix—methods has become more prominent. Methodological exclusivism has been labeled as unnecessary and inhibiting because it does not recognize the contributions made by each. Attempts at bridging this divide have led to more pragmatic approaches which combine quantitative and qualitative methods into a single study. Integration allows for complementary strengths to minimize weakness within each. At this point, many in the social sciences view “mixed methods” research as its own paradigm—marked by unique concepts, philosophical assumptions, research designs and typologies, integration strategies, methodological procedures, and pedagogical goals. The following provides a comprehensive review of this literature and approach by providing an annotated bibliography for each of these areas.
General Texts on Mixed Methods
As noted in the literature, mixed methods research has become more prominent across the social sciences, to include the fields of criminal justice/criminology. Creamer 2017, Creswell 2021, Creswell and Clark 2017, Creswell and Creswell 2017, Greene 2007, and Tashakkori, et al. 2020 all provide a text-based introduction and overview of its definitions, philosophical assumptions, designs, procedures, data collection strategies, forms of analysis, and dissemination techniques. The general reviews Creamer 2021 and Hesse-Biber 2010 offer more focus by examining the relationship between theory and mixed methods research. Ridenour and Newman 2008 and Morse and Niehaus 2016 likewise provide such a review with special attention given to both integration and methodological considerations.
Creamer, E. G. 2017. An introduction to fully integrated mixed methods research. Los Angeles: SAGE.
Provides an overview for developing, executing, and evaluating fully-integrated mixed methods research designs. Covers various topics associated with mixed methods definitions, philosophical assumptions, designs, procedures, data, analysis, and dissemination. Concludes by identifying considerations and controversies to guide and develop future mixed methods projects.
Creamer, E. G. 2021. Advancing grounded theory with mixed methods. New York: Routledge.
Introduces the concept of “Mixed Method—Grounded Theory Methodology” (MM-GTM). This perspective situates the principles of grounded theory, often reserved for qualitative work, within a mixed methods paradigm. While outlining the new—qualitatively driven—approach, this work discusses the definitions, strategies, processes, and practices associated with MM-GTM.
Creswell, J. W. 2021. A concise introduction to mixed methods research. Los Angeles: SAGE.
Outlines the central methodological components associated with mixed methods research. This text walks the reader through definitions of, beneficial strategies associated with, typologies intended for, and research questions fitting of mixed methods research. It also highlights types of mixed methods designs, methodological procedures, specific integration practices, and dissemination techniques.
Creswell, J. W., and V. L. P. Clark. 2017. Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Los Angeles: SAGE.
Provides a step-by-step look into the process of conducting mixed methods research. In doing so, this text first outlines the nature and foundations of mixed methods research. It then examines the design, application, and methodological practices associated with combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Lastly, it concludes by offering insights for writing mixed methods research while identifying recent advancements in the field.
Creswell, J. W., and J. D. Creswell. 2017. Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Los Angeles: SAGE.
Overviews mixed methods research alongside qualitative and quantitative paradigms. Philosophical perspectives are considered, accompanied by a review of both theoretical and ethical considerations. This text also outlines the process of designing and conducting qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies. Doing so highlights the benefits and potential of mixed methods research.
Greene, J. C. 2007. Mixed methods in social inquiry. Vol. 9. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Provides a comprehensive overview of conducting mixed methods research. Organized into three parts, the first section examines the definitions, development, philosophical foundations, and orientation of mixed methods. The second section outlines the purposes, designs, methodological practices, and write-up process associated with conducting mixed methods studies. The final section provides additional insights into the potential for and promise of mixed methods for social science inquiry.
Hesse-Biber, S. 2010. Mixed methods research: Mixing theory with practice. New York: The Guilford Press.
This book examines the relationship and praxis between theory and the practice of mixed methods research. Given its inductive approach, this work outlines various qualitive perspectives that can inform and guide mixed methods research, outlining the importance of interpretive, feminist, and post-modern frameworks. It further outlines how each inform the conceptualization, implementation, procedures, and dissemination of qualitatively driven mixed methods research.
Morse, J. M., and L. Niehaus. 2016. Mixed method design: Principles and procedures. New York: Routledge.
Departing from more generalized texts, this work focuses on the design and process of combining qualitative and quantitative approaches into a mixed methods study. Specific attention is given to theory, elements, and principles for mixing—or combing—methodologies into a single approach. This work also outlines specific considerations when planning and conducting qualitatively, quantitatively, and complex-mixed methods designs.
Ridenour, C. S., and I. Newman. 2008. Mixed methods research: Exploring the interactive continuum. Carbondale, IL: SIU Press.
Conceptualizes mixed methods as existing on a continuum between qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Examines the false dichotomy existing between qualitative and quantitative methods while focusing on the validity, reliability, strategies, and applications of mixed methods research. Notes that combining methodological means should exist on an interactive continuum to formulate and implement mixed methods research.
Tashakkori, A., R. B. Johnson, and C. Teddlie. 2020. Foundations of mixed methods research: Integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches in the social and behavioral sciences. 2d ed. Los Angeles: SAGE.
Offers a comprehensive overview compiling a decade of knowledge, development, and advancements in the field of mixed methods research. This text addresses twelve critical areas such as the definitions, development, approaches, and philosophical foundations of mixed methods. It also outlines the designs, research process, methodological practices, analytic strategies, and dissemination practices for conducting mixed methods research.
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Article
- Active Offender Research
- Actus Reus
- Adler, Freda
- Adversarial System of Justice
- Adverse Childhood Experiences
- Aging Prison Population, The
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- Alcohol and Drug Prohibition
- Alcohol Use, Policy and Crime
- Alt-Right Gangs and White Power Youth Groups
- Animals, Crimes Against
- Anomie
- Arson
- Art Crime
- Back-End Sentencing and Parole Revocation
- Bail and Pretrial Detention
- Batterer Intervention Programs
- Bentham, Jeremy
- Big Data and Communities and Crime
- Biosocial Criminology
- Blackmail
- Black's Theory of Law and Social Control
- Blumstein, Alfred
- Boot Camps and Shock Incarceration Programs
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- Bystander Intervention
- Capital Punishment
- Chambliss, William
- Chicago School of Criminology, The
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- Chinese Triad Society
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- Community-Based Substance Use Prevention
- Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
- CompStat Models of Police Performance Management
- Confessions, False and Coerced
- Conservation Criminology
- Consumer Fraud
- Contextual Analysis of Crime
- Control Balance Theory
- Convict Criminology
- Co-Offending and the Role of Accomplices
- Corporate Crime
- Costs of Crime and Justice
- Courts, Drug
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- Courts, Mental Health
- Courts, Problem-Solving
- Crime and Justice in Latin America
- Crime, Campus
- Crime Control Policy
- Crime Control, Politics of
- Crime, (In)Security, and Islam
- Crime Prevention, Delinquency and
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- Crime Prevention, Voluntary Organizations and
- Crime Trends
- Crime Victims' Rights Movement
- Criminal Career Research
- Criminal Decision Making, Emotions in
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- Criminal Justice Ethics
- Criminal Justice Fines and Fees
- Criminal Justice Reform, Politics of
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- Criminal Records
- Criminal Retaliation
- Criminal Talk
- Criminology and Political Science
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- Cultural Theories
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- Day Fines
- Deadly Force
- Defense Counsel
- Defining "Success" in Corrections and Reentry
- Desistance
- Deterrence
- Developmental and Life-Course Criminology
- Digital Piracy
- Driving and Traffic Offenses
- Drug Control
- Drug Trafficking, International
- Drugs and Crime
- Elder Abuse
- Electronically Monitored Home Confinement
- Employee Theft
- Environmental Crime and Justice
- Experimental Criminology
- Extortion
- Family Violence
- Fear of Crime and Perceived Risk
- Felon Disenfranchisement
- Femicide
- Feminist Theories
- Feminist Victimization Theories
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- Firearms and Violence
- Forensic Science
- For-Profit Private Prisons and the Criminal Justice–Indust...
- Fraud
- Gambling
- Gangs, Peers, and Co-offending
- Gender and Crime
- Gendered Crime Pathways
- General Opportunity Victimization Theories
- Genetics, Environment, and Crime
- Green Criminology
- Halfway Houses
- Harm Reduction and Risky Behaviors
- Hate Crime
- Hate Crime Legislation
- Healthcare Fraud
- Hirschi, Travis
- History of Crime in the United Kingdom
- History of Criminology
- Homelessness and Crime
- Homicide
- Homicide Victimization
- Honor Cultures and Violence
- Hot Spots Policing
- Human Rights
- Human Trafficking
- Identity Theft
- Immigration, Crime, and Justice
- Incarceration, Mass
- Incarceration, Public Health Effects of
- Income Tax Evasion
- Indigenous Criminology
- Institutional Anomie Theory
- Integrated Theory
- Intermediate Sanctions
- Interpersonal Violence, Historical Patterns of
- Interrogation
- Intimate Partner Violence, Criminological Perspectives on
- Intimate Partner Violence, Police Responses to
- Investigation, Criminal
- Juvenile Delinquency
- Juvenile Justice System, The
- Juvenile Waivers
- Kidnapping
- Kornhauser, Ruth Rosner
- Labeling Theory
- Labor Markets and Crime
- Land Use and Crime
- Lead and Crime
- Legitimacy
- LGBTQ Intimate Partner Violence
- LGBTQ People in Prison
- Life Without Parole Sentencing
- Local Institutions and Neighborhood Crime
- Lombroso, Cesare
- Longitudinal Research in Criminology
- Mandatory Minimum Sentencing
- Mapping and Spatial Analysis of Crime, The
- Mass Media, Crime, and Justice
- Measuring Crime
- Mediation and Dispute Resolution Programs
- Mental Health and Crime
- Merton, Robert K.
- Meta-analysis in Criminology
- Middle-Class Crime and Criminality
- Migrant Detention and Incarceration
- Mixed Methods Research in Criminology
- Money Laundering
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Multi-Level Marketing Scams
- Murder, Serial
- Narrative Criminology
- National Deviancy Symposia, The
- Nature Versus Nurture
- Neighborhood Disorder
- Neutralization Theory
- New Penology, The
- Offender Decision-Making and Motivation
- Offense Specialization/Expertise
- Organized Crime
- Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs
- Panel Methods in Criminology
- Peacemaking Criminology
- Peer Networks and Delinquency
- Perceptions of Youth, Juvenile Justice Professionals'
- Performance Measurement and Accountability Systems
- Personality and Trait Theories of Crime
- Persons with a Mental Illness, Police Encounters with
- Phenomenological Theories of Crime
- Plea Bargaining
- Poaching
- Police Administration
- Police Cooperation, International
- Police Discretion
- Police Effectiveness
- Police History
- Police Militarization
- Police Misconduct
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- Police Use of Force
- Police, Violence against the
- Policing and Law Enforcement
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- Prison Classification
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- Prison Gangs and Subculture
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- Prison Visitation
- Prisoner Reentry
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- Public Opinion, Crime and Justice
- Public Order Crimes
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- Punishment Justification and Goals
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- Queer Criminology
- Race and Sentencing Research Advancements
- Race, Ethnicity, Crime, and Justice
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- Racial Profiling
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- Rape, Fear of
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- Rehabilitation
- Religion and Crime
- Restorative Justice
- Risk Assessment
- Routine Activity Theories
- School Bullying
- School Crime and Violence
- School Safety, Security, and Discipline
- Search Warrants
- Seasonality and Crime
- Self-Control, The General Theory:
- Self-Report Crime Surveys
- Sentencing Enhancements
- Sentencing, Evidence-Based
- Sentencing Guidelines
- Sentencing Policy
- Sex Crimes
- Sex Offender Policies and Legislation
- Sex Trafficking
- Sexual Revictimization
- Situational Action Theory
- Snitching and Use of Criminal Informants
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- Social Construction of Crime, The
- Social Control of Tobacco Use
- Social Control Theory
- Social Disorganization
- Social Ecology of Crime
- Social Learning Theory
- Social Networks
- Social Threat and Social Control
- Solitary Confinement
- South Africa, Crime and Justice in
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- Stalking and Harassment
- State Crime
- State Dependence and Population Heterogeneity in Theories ...
- Strain Theories
- Street Code
- Street Robbery
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- Sutherland, Edwin H.
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- Terrorism and Hate Crime
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- Testimony, Eyewitness
- Therapeutic Jurisprudence
- Trajectory Methods in Criminology
- Transnational Crime
- Truth-In-Sentencing
- Urban Politics and Crime
- US War on Terrorism, Legal Perspectives on the
- Victim Impact Statements
- Victimization, Adolescent
- Victimization, Biosocial Theories of
- Victimization Patterns and Trends
- Victimization, Repeat
- Victimization, Vicarious and Related Forms of Secondary Tr...
- Victimless Crime
- Victim-Offender Overlap, The
- Violence Against Women
- Violence, Youth
- Violent Crime
- White-Collar Crime
- White-Collar Crime, The Global Financial Crisis and
- White-Collar Crime, Women and
- Wilson, James Q.
- Wolfgang, Marvin
- Women, Girls, and Reentry
- Wrongful Conviction