When to use it
When a thesis uses a survey plus interviews, examiners ask how the two parts connect. This figure gives the connection its own layer: look at which quantitative results need explaining, decide who to interview and what to ask, then integrate both sets of findings.
Make it yours
- For an exploratory sequential design, swap the two phases and change the connecting layer to "Build the survey from the themes".
- For a convergent design, place the two phases side by side and join them at integration.
- Replace each step with your own method and sample size.
Mermaid code
flowchart TB
A[Research questions and literature] --> B[Mixed methods design]
subgraph Q1[Phase 1 Quantitative]
direction LR
C1[Develop and pilot the survey] --> C2[Sample and collect data] --> C3[Descriptive and regression analysis]
end
subgraph Q2[Connecting]
direction LR
D1[Identify results that need explaining] --> D2[Select interviewees and write the guide]
end
subgraph Q3[Phase 2 Qualitative]
direction LR
E1[Semi-structured interviews] --> E2[Transcribe and code] --> E3[Develop themes]
end
B --> Q1 --> Q2 --> Q3
Q3 --> F[Integrate both sets of findings]
F --> G[Conclusions and limitations]Ask an AI for one with this structure
Send the prompt below to ChatGPT or Claude, then paste the whole reply into the editor; the code inside is detected automatically.
Draw an explanatory sequential mixed methods design diagram with Mermaid flowchart TB syntax. Start with research questions and literature, then the mixed methods design. Use three subgraphs with direction LR inside: Phase 1 Quantitative with developing and piloting the survey, sampling and collecting data, and statistical analysis; Connecting with identifying results that need explaining and selecting interviewees; Phase 2 Qualitative with semi-structured interviews, transcribing and coding, and developing themes. End with integrating both sets of findings and conclusions. Do not use parentheses in node text. Output only the mermaid code block.
FAQ
- I ran a survey and a few interviews. Is that mixed methods?
It depends on whether the interviews are analyzed in their own right and integrated with the survey results. If they only illustrate, "survey study with supporting interviews" is more accurate.
- Should the figure name the design type?
Yes. Naming it as explanatory sequential, exploratory sequential or convergent in the design node helps examiners.
- What happens if a subgraph title is long?
It widens the whole box. Keep titles to a few words and move detail into the nodes.
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Updated 2026-11-11