OeNB Financial Literacy Evaluation Series: Mixed methods – practical guide for the gold standard of evaluation research

Authors: Theresa Lorenz
Year: 2024

Mixed-method evaluations combine qualitative and quantitative research methods, offering a deep and comprehensive analysis of complex social phenomena. This approach is widely regarded as the gold standard in evaluation research. However, effectively integrating these methods can be challenging. One common issue is the tendency to treat the findings from each method separately (e.g., in distinct publications), rather than fully integrating them. This separation can hinder a holistic understanding of the evaluation results, limiting the potential of a mixed-methods approach. In this paper, we provide an overview of various mixed-methods evaluation designs and aim to mitigate some of the challenges faced by researchers employing this approach. Our goal is to equip evaluation researchers with the knowledge and tools needed to incorporate mixed methods into their methodological toolkit, enabling them to apply this approach effectively.

The full report is available here in PDF and HTML. formats. Additionally, a blog article on mixed methods can be found here (only in German available).