This three-day workshop introduces mixed methods research in health sciences. It is designed for participants interested in how integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches can provide a comprehensive understanding of health research questions.
The workshop covers key concepts underlying mixed methods research, including the development of research questions, common study designs, and strategies for integrating different types of data. Participants will also be introduced to mixed studies reviews and practical applications in health research.
Morning sessions will feature hybrid interactive lectures with a focus on core concepts and examples. Afternoon sessions are reserved for in-person participants and provide hands-on experience through guided exercises and group work.
Teaching format
July 1 to 3, 2026
- Morning hybrid session: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
- Afternoon in-person session: 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Location: 2001 McGill College Avenue, 5th floor, room 547, Montreal, Quebec
Learning outcomes
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe the purpose and key characteristics of mixed methods research in health.
- Differentiate between common mixed methods study designs, including sequential and convergent approaches.
- Formulate a basic mixed methods research question that integrates qualitative and quantitative components.
- Explain the principles of integration and how qualitative and quantitative data can be combined within a study.
- Identify and apply basic integration strategies at the design, methods, and interpretation levels.
- Understand the purpose and structure of mixed studies reviews and their role in health research.
Schedule
|
Day 1 – Wednesday, July 1 |
|
|---|---|
|
8:00 - 8:30 am |
Light breakfast |
|
8:30 - 8:45 am |
Welcome, introductions and discussion of expectations |
| 8:45 - 9:15 am |
Introduction to mixed methods |
| 9:15 - 10:00 am |
Development of a mixed methods research problem, aims and questions |
|
10:00 - 10:10 am |
Break |
| 10:10 - 11:00 am |
Mixed methods study designs: Sequential designs |
| 11:00 - 11:10 am | Break |
| 11:10 am - 12:00 pm | Mixed methods study designs: Convergent designs |
|
12:00 - 1:00 pm |
Lunch |
| 1:00 - 4:00 pm | Practicum: Developing a mixed methods research question and design |
|
Day 2 – Thursday, July 2 |
|
|
8:00 - 8:30 am |
Light breakfast |
|
8:30 - 9:00 am |
Introduction to integration |
| 9:00 - 10:00 am |
Principles of integration in mixed methods research |
| 10:00 - 10:10 am |
Break |
| 10:10 - 11:00 am |
Integration strategies: design, methods, and interpretation |
| 11:00 - 11:10 am | Break |
| 11:10 am - 12:00 pm | Case studies and applied examples |
|
12:00pm - 1:00pm |
Lunch |
| 1:00 - 4:00 pm | Practicum: Critical appraisal and projects’ presentations |
|
Day 3 – Friday, July 3 |
|
| 8:00 - 8:30 am |
Light breakfast |
| 8:30 - 9:00 am |
Reporting mixed methods |
| 9:00 - 10:00 am | 10:00 - 10:10 am |
| 10:00 - 10:10 am | Break |
| 10:10 - 11:00 am |
Introduction to mixed studies reviews |
| 11:00 - 11:10 am | Break |
| 11:10 am - 12:00 pm | Steps for conducting mixed studies reviews |
| 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 1:00 - 4:00 pm | Practicum: Critical appraisal and projects’ presentations |
Instructors and Organizers
Dr. Belinda Nicolau, DDS, MSc, PhD
Professor, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University
Belinda Nicolau is a Professor at the Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences at McGill University. Her research focuses on oral epidemiology, particularly the role of human papillomavirus in the aetiology of oral cancer.
More recently, she has expanded her research program to include antimicrobial resistance, with a focus on how dental health professionals and educators can contribute to prevention and antimicrobial stewardship. She has been teaching mixed methods since 2008, when the first course in mixed methods research was introduced at McGill University.
Quan Nha Hong, OT, MSc, PhD
Assistant Professor, School of Rehabilitation, Université de Montréal
Quan Nha Hong is an occupational therapist and Assistant Professor at the School of Rehabilitation at Université de Montréal. She is also a researcher at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR).
She holds a PhD in Family Medicine and Primary Care from McGill University, as well as graduate training in clinical sciences from Université de Sherbrooke and health technology assessment from Université de Montréal.
Her research focuses on knowledge synthesis methods, mixed methods research, and knowledge translation to support evidence-informed decision-making in health and rehabilitation. She has made important contributions to the development and validation of methodological tools, including the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), several qualitative and quantitative research methods, including interviews (semi-structured, structured, and photo-interviews), questionnaires, systematic observation, content analysis, advanced quantitative analysis, and others. She has been working with Dr. Nicolau since 2008, coordinating several research projects, which involve training students and personnel in various research tasks and organizing research meetings.
Isabelle Vedel, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University
Isabelle Vedel is a public health physician and Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at McGill University. She is also an investigator at the Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research at the Jewish General Hospital. Her research focuses on the organization and evaluation of primary health care services, particularly for older adults and individuals living with multiple chronic conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.
She is the co-founder and scientific director of the ROSA research team (Research on the Organization of Healthcare Services for Alzheimer’s), and her work examines integrated care models, health system reforms, and the implementation of health information technologies in chronic disease management. Her research programme combines health services research, implementation science, and mixed methods approaches to improve care delivery and inform health policy