Qualitative Health Research
April 2016; 26 (5)
http://qhr.sagepub.com/content/current
Special Issue: Qualitative Contributions to Quantitative Inquiry

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Commentary
Adding Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research to Health Intervention Studies: Interacting With Differences
R. Burke Johnson and Judith Schoonenboom
Qual Health Res April 2016 26: 587-602, first published on December 9, 2015 doi:10.1177/1049732315617479
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to explain how to improve intervention designs, such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs), in health science research using a process philosophy and theory known as dialectical pluralism (DP). DP views reality as plural and uses dialectical, dialogical, and hermeneutical approaches to knowledge construction. Using DP and its “both/and” logic, and its attempt to produce new creative syntheses, researchers on heterogeneous teams can better dialogue with qualitative and mixed methods approaches, concepts, paradigms, methodologies, and methods to improve their intervention research studies. The concept of reflexivity is utilized but is expanded when it is a component of DP. Examples of strategies for identifying, inviting, and creating divergence and integrative strategies for producing strong mixed methods intervention studies are provided and illustrated using real-life examples.