How interpretive qualitative research extends mixed methods research.

Recently several authors have criticized mixed methods research because it relegates qualitative research to secondary or auxiliary status, it expresses this status through experimental trials that privilege quantitative research, and it fails to employ critical, interpretive approaches to qualitative research. This paper is a response to this position, and we draw on leading qualitative and feminist researchers who advance the importance of mixed methods research. We also cite empirical mixed methods articles that give priority to qualitative research, as well as mixed methods studies that use critical interpretive approaches. Our overall argument is that qualitative research can enhance mixed methods research, and we give specific examples as illustrations.