Mixed methods research (MMR) is increasingly used in counseling, yet confusion persists about what qualifies as a true MMR study. Adding an open-ended question to a survey is not mixed methods—integration is the defining feature. This poster clarifies the distinction between MMR and multi-method designs, walks attendees through three core designs (explanatory sequential, exploratory sequential, and convergent), and uses side-by-side examples to illustrate what integration looks like in practice
