Research and Evaluation: The Practices, Politics, and Possibilities of Mixed Methods Social Inquiry

For several decades now, researchers and evaluators around the globe have turned to a mixed methods approach to social inquiry as a strategy for "better understanding" the important social phenomena be-ing studied. One accomplishment of this time period is the elaboration of varied methodological framework(s) and approaches for mixed methods practice by many theorists and practitioners. It is now im-portant to turn our attention to the politics of mixed methods social in-quiry, which can also enlighten our thinking about mixed methods pos-sibilities, including the contributions that mixed methods social inquiry can make to our increasingly troubled world. Within social science, politics generally refers to the values that are advanced by a given study. Values are most commonly conveyed through our designated inquiry purpose and audience, key inquiry questions, and accompany-ing methodological design. This presentation will engage this important topic using the formal language of methodology and the common lan-guage of storytelling.