Concurrent Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Design
Also known as: concurrent-exploratory sequential design, QUAN+QUAL→QUAN design, concurrent exploratory mixed design, multiphase concurrent-exploratory design
Concurrent exploratory sequential mixed methods design is an advanced mixed methods configuration that combines two timing structures: a concurrent (simultaneous) data-collection phase alongside an exploratory sequential strand, in which early qualitative findings inform the development or refinement of a quantitative component. This hybrid is used when a study needs both real-time integration of qualitative and quantitative data and an instrument-building or theory-testing phase driven by initial qualitative exploration.
Key highlights
- Maximizes time efficiency by running concurrent and sequential pathways simultaneously rather than fully waiting for one phase to complete.
- Produces both triangulated concurrent evidence and sequentially grounded instruments within a single study, strengthening both breadth and depth.
- Well suited to emergent phenomena where no adequate existing measures exist and rapid quantitative testing is also needed.
- Generates a rich meta-inference by integrating evidence from multiple data sources with different timing structures.
- Particularly powerful in multi-site or large-scale research where sites have staggered access and different data-readiness timelines.
Intuition
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How it works
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When to use it
Use this design when your research questions simultaneously require real-time qualitative-quantitative triangulation AND an instrument-building or construct-validation sequence driven by qualitative exploration — typically in complex educational, health, or organizational studies where no validated measure yet exists for the phenomenon and large-scale testing cannot wait. It is well suited to multi-site studies with staggered data access across sites. Do NOT use it when your team lacks the capacity to manage parallel data-collection pipelines; a simpler exploratory sequential or concurrent triangulation design is more manageable. Also avoid it when qualitative and quantitative samples are incompatible in timing or access, or when the study budget cannot support overlapping fieldwork and instrument development simultaneously.
Strengths & limitations
- Maximizes time efficiency by running concurrent and sequential pathways simultaneously rather than fully waiting for one phase to complete.
- Produces both triangulated concurrent evidence and sequentially grounded instruments within a single study, strengthening both breadth and depth.
- Well suited to emergent phenomena where no adequate existing measures exist and rapid quantitative testing is also needed.
- Generates a rich meta-inference by integrating evidence from multiple data sources with different timing structures.
- Particularly powerful in multi-site or large-scale research where sites have staggered access and different data-readiness timelines.
- Highly complex to coordinate: managing parallel qualitative, concurrent quantitative, and sequential quantitative strands simultaneously demands significant logistical capacity.
- Instrument developed mid-study may not be fully validated before the follow-up quantitative wave, introducing measurement uncertainty.
- Integration logic must be planned with precision before data collection; post-hoc attempts to connect strands that were not designed to integrate are unlikely to succeed.
- Requires a research team with both strong qualitative and quantitative expertise, often making it unsuitable for solo researchers or small teams.
- Reporting such a design clearly in a journal article is challenging because most publication formats are not structured for multistrand designs.
Common pitfalls
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Applications
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Frequently asked
How is this different from a standard exploratory sequential design?
A standard exploratory sequential design runs in a strictly linear order: qualitative first, then instrument development, then quantitative. The concurrent exploratory sequential design adds a concurrent (simultaneous) strand alongside the sequential pathway, meaning some qualitative and quantitative data collection happens at the same time. The result is a more complex but potentially more efficient design when time constraints or multi-site logistics make full sequencing impractical.
How is it different from concurrent triangulation?
Concurrent triangulation collects qualitative and quantitative data simultaneously using existing measures, then merges them to check convergence. The concurrent exploratory sequential design adds a further sequential stage where qualitative findings drive the development of new quantitative instruments — so it has both concurrent and sequential elements. If you already have a validated instrument, concurrent triangulation is simpler and more appropriate.
What integration strategies work best for this design?
The most common strategy is a joint display or comparison matrix that puts concurrent qualitative themes alongside concurrent and sequential quantitative results. Quantitative results from the follow-up wave can then be compared with both the concurrent qualitative themes and the concurrent quantitative findings to assess convergence and expansion. The integration narrative in the discussion section should explicitly address findings from all three data sets.
Is this design appropriate for a dissertation?
Generally not for a solo doctoral student, because managing overlapping concurrent and sequential strands simultaneously is logistically demanding and difficult to complete within a typical dissertation timeline. A simpler exploratory sequential or concurrent embedded design is more appropriate. This design is better suited to funded research teams with designated roles for qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
How do I report this design in a journal article?
Use a visual diagram showing both pathways (concurrent strand and sequential exploratory strand) with labeled integration points. The methods section should specify sampling strategies, timing, and integration logic for each strand separately. Refer explicitly to Creswell and Plano Clark (2018) to anchor the design in established typology, and acknowledge any timing trade-offs or instrument-development limitations encountered during the study.
Sources
- 1.Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2018). Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.ISBN 978-1483344379
- 2.Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2011). Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research (2nd ed.). SAGE Publications.ISBN 978-1412975179
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Cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Concurrent Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/research-design/concurrent-exploratory-sequential-mixed-methods