Mixed methods is a research orientation that possesses unique purposes and techniques. It [Page 813]integrates techniques from quantitative and qualitative paradigms to tackle research questions that can be best addressed by mixing these two traditional approaches. As long as 40 years ago, scholars noted that quantitative and qualitative research were not antithetical and that every research process, through practical necessity, should include aspects of both quantitative and qualitative methodology. In order to achieve more useful and meaningful results in any study, it is essential to consider the actual needs and purposes of a research problem to determine the methods to be implemented. The literature on mixed methods design is vast, and contributions have been made by scholars from myriad disciplines in the social sciences. Therefore, ...