"Luminary author Joseph A. Maxwell shows readers how to do unconventional, yet grounded, mixed methods research. Serving as a foundation for realist approaches, Mixed Methods Research Outside the Box will give readers a new way to think about and combine qualitative and quantitative research. This expansive text takes a broad view of mixed methods by presenting an alternative perspective on mixed methods research design, the "interactive" or "systemic" model of design that more closely integrates qualitative and quantitative elements and acknowledges the complementarity of qualitative and quantitative methods. This novel conceptualization extends through research design concepts like validity and causation. Maxwell brings together work on combining qualitative and quantitative methods from a variety of disciplines and puts them in conversation with one another. Starting from the history of mixed methods research and drawing from recent works on causation, integration, and philosophy of science, this text featuring innovations in mixed methods such as process tracing in political science and design-based research in education. This groundbreaking book provides readers with a new way of thinking about developing and conducting mixed methods research"--.