Multimethodology

Multimethodology is an approach to research and inquiry that deliberately uses more than one method or methodological tradition to study a phenomenon. It emphasizes methodological pluralism and aims to offset the weaknesses of any single method by combining complementary tools, data sources, and perspectives. While closely related to mixed methods, multimethodology is not limited to integrating qualitative and quantitative components within a single study; it can also involve employing multiple methods across different studies or research programs, with integration as a guiding goal.

Practices vary across fields. Some researchers use sequential designs, where findings from one method inform the next stage, while others employ concurrent designs that collect data in parallel. Methods can be qualitative, quantitative, or computational, including surveys, experiments, interviews, ethnography, content analysis, archival research, modeling, and simulations. The central aim is triangulation or corroboration: converging evidence from diverse sources to strengthen validity, illuminate complex causal mechanisms, and reduce bias.

Applications span the social sciences, health, education, urban studies, engineering, and policy analysis. Critics note increased complexity, higher resource demands, and challenges in data integration when methods differ in epistemology or measurement scales. Transparent reporting and explicit rationales for method choices are essential to mitigate biases and improve interpretability.

Examples of multimethodological work include studies of organizational change using interviews, document analysis, and longitudinal surveys, or policy evaluations employing case studies, statistical analysis, and stakeholder interviews.

See also: triangulation, mixed methods, methodological pluralism, cross-method research.