A systematic review of mixed methods research in tourism and hospitality

Abstract

Though the strength of mixed method design has been increasingly recognized, the considerable potential of mixed methods to advance tourism and hospitality knowledge theoretically and practically, has not been fully explored. This research provides a systematic review of mixed methods by examining 328 papers published in ABS 4-star and 3-star tourism and hospitality journals from 2015 to 2024. The review reveals a trend in using contemporary paradigms such as pragmatism to guide mixed methods research (MMR). The extensive application of mixed methods spans multiple topics, ranging from technological applications and socio-cultural impacts to sustainable development. Each type of mixed methods exhibits different characteristics in its priorities for qualitative and quantitative methods, topics and data collection and analysis methods. This paper advances the understanding of mixed methods by systematically reviewing their application, paradigms, topics, and data collection and analysis methods. It proposes a standardized process for applying mixed methods, providing researchers with a tool to quickly identify appropriate methods and a structured guide for implementation.