Changing the paradigm: emerging research designs in professional doctorates

The emergence of mixed methods in business, management and organisational research has only recently begun to take the notice of researchers and academics. There is relatively less literature and commentary on the use of mixed methods in applied business than there is in social sciences, health and education where mixed methods has witnessed higher levels of acceptance. Nonetheless, those who have researched the use of mixed methods in business and management fields have found an increasing utilisation of mixed methods. This chapter will explore the emergent body of literature and research which is attempting to gauge the use of mixed methods across a variety of business and management fields. This will be followed by the presentation of research findings into the research designs and methods utilised in DBA theses from the International Centre for Professional Doctorates at Southern Cross University in Australia. The research points to mixed methods as being the most frequently utilised research approach by DBA candidates (39%). This exceeds the number of purely quantitative theses (32%) and purely qualitative theses (29%). Of all the DBA theses (n=186) examined 41.4% (n=77) have been Australian based.