Procedural Issues in a Mixed Methods Research: A Phenomenological Study of a Doctoral Student in Lesotho

This paper narrates some lived experiences of a doctoral student in using a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. Study was conducted to layout the procedural issues followed in a mixed method research from the researcher’s point of view. Data was first collected and analysed quantitatively using and followed by collecting and analysing qualitative data in two consecutive phases within one study or in a single study. Drawing from this paper, definition of a mixed methods approach followed by outlined procedural issues or mixed methods dimensions in using the mixed methods sequential explanatory design are discussed. These procedural issues include: 1) implementation (timing) of mixed methods approach, which is the sequence in which data was collected  2) rationale for using mixed-methods approach 3) priority or weight given to an approach for analysis, 4) the stage of integration in the research process at which the quantitative and qualitative data are consolidated. Finally, this paper offers a comprehensive explanation of challenges of adapting the mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. It is hoped that this paper is used to enrich the understanding of researchers and students on philosophical underpinnings that help in adapting mixed methods in their own studies.