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Abstract
This article analyses the use of mixed methods in papers published in the Journal of Sustainable Tourism over the 10 years, 2005–2014. First, a content analysis of the articles shows that mixed methods are used primarily for expansion and development of results, and less often for triangulation or complementarity. Sequential designs are slightly more popular than simultaneous designs, with qualitative research preceding the quantitative element. In the majority of cases, both the quantitative and qualitative methods have equivalent importance, yet where one is dominant, this is usually the quantitative part. Second, we contextualise the content analysis by exemplifying the use of mixed methods in selected papers, using commentary from authors who have recently published mixed methods papers. We reflect on the reasons for, strengths and weaknesses of using mixed methods, and we argue that mixed methods provide sustainable tourism academics with more opportunities for pragmatic transformative research for societal change, and increasing research reliability in relation to social desirability bias, stakeholder comparisons and transdisciplinarity. The paper notes the need for greater understanding of mixed methods by researchers, its special value and growing importance in sustainable tourism research, and its challenges and strengths for authors and editors.
可持旅游研究中的混合方法：JOST2005至2014年间普及、设计和应用的分析
本文分析的混合方法，在2005年至2014年间超过十年刊登在可持续旅游杂志（JOST）。首先，该文章的内容分析表明，混合方法主要用于扩大和发展成果，以及较少的三角或互补关系。连续设计稍微比同步设计更受欢迎，就像定性研究排在定量元素前面。在大多数情况下，定量和定性的方法，具有同等的重要性，但其中主导的那一个通常是定量部分。其次，我们通过举例使用混合方法和运用之前出版过此类内容的作者的评论进行上下文内容分析。我们反思使用混合方法优势势的原因，我们认为混合方法提供了可持续旅游业理论和务实的社会变革性研究的更多机会，并提高了可靠性研究在社会理想、利益相关者的比较和跨学科之间的偏见。该文件指出，需要对混合方法的研究人员、可持续旅游研究中特殊的价值和日益增加的重要性以及作者和编辑面临的挑战和优势有更深入的了解。
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments. We are also especially grateful to co-editor Bernard Lane, for his attention, comments and suggestions. This paper has benefited from their interesting and relevant ideas.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
José F. Molina-Azorín
José F. Molina-Azorín is senior lecturer in the Department of Management at the University of Alicante, Spain. His research interests are competitive strategy, microfoundations, organizational design, environmental management and quality management in the tourism industry. His research also focuses on the use and benefits of mixed methods in research applied to several management areas, such as strategic management, entrepreneurship and environmental management.
Xavier Font
Xavier Font is a reader at the International Centre for Research in Events, Tourism and Hospitality at Leeds Beckett University. His research focuses on understanding reasons for pro-sustainability behaviour and market-based mechanisms to encourage sustainable production and consumption.