The importance of Multimethod and Mixed Methods Research Approach in HRD. A Case of a ‘Skills Needs Identification Study.'

Research and theory building in Human Resource Development (HRD) and allied fields have not been spared the so-called paradigm wars with the preponderance of empirical research in HRD being quantitative. The dominant epistemology in HRD has been the linear epistemology and transcend many discourses, practice, and research in the field. There is however, a rise in research grounded in nonlinear epistemology, although the underlying methodological approaches have not clearly been defined. Mixed Methods and Multimethod research approaches are therefore becoming important as a result of the epistemological shift. Multimethods and Mixed Method research approaches in HRD are not novel, however, methodologies and concepts underlying the approach are not very well developed. In a multimethod mixed methods study to identify skill needs for agrifood nanotechnology, a comprehensive methodology was developed for a systems approach research in HRD. In this paper, this multimethod mixed methods research is described to provide a template and an approach that can be adapted in other HRD research. The importance of multimethod and mixed methods research approaches in HRD is articulated.