Using embedded mixed methods in studying is phenomena: Risks and practical remedies with an illustration

Drawing on lessons learned from a mixed-methods research project, we illustrate how mixed research approaches are fruitful in studying the complexities and interactions inherent in IS phenomena, which is particularly relevant when one investigates relatively new and “messy” phenomena in that many opportunities for errors and omissions can arise. Mixed-methods research designs can also prove to be valuable in exploratory or new areas of research and provide empirical evidence from multiple sources and types of data that one can truly triangulate. In this paper, we discuss the risks associated with using a specific mixed-methods research strategy (i.e., embedded mixed-methods design) and the practical remedies we used to address them. This discussion provides operational guidance to researchers interested in adopting mixed research designs to study emergent IS phenomena.