What is considered a primary strength of mixed-methods research?

Mixed-methods research combines both qualitative and quantitative approaches, which allows researchers to leverage the strengths of each methodology. This combination enables a more comprehensive understanding of a research topic as it provides multiple perspectives and types of data. For example, quantitative data can establish patterns and statistical significance, while qualitative data can offer deeper insights into participants' experiences, feelings, and contextual factors.

This multifaceted approach helps to triangulate findings, where the results from different methods can confirm or enrich each other, leading to a more nuanced analysis. By integrating the richness of qualitative insights with the reliability of quantitative measures, mixed-methods research can present a fuller picture of the research question, addressing the complexities of social phenomena more effectively than either method could alone.

The other options are not strengths of mixed-methods research; while it may take longer and involve more complex analysis due to the integration of different types of data, and it does not focus solely on quantitative data, these characteristics highlight the depth and breadth that mixed methods offer rather than undermine its effectiveness.