The Mediating Role of Planning Skills in the Development of Mixed Methods Knowledge: Professional Experiences and Personal Viewpoints

Abstract

Mixed methods research (MMR) has gained prominence in applied linguistics, yet limited research explores the individual factors influencing MMR proficiency. This study examines the impact of professional experiences, personal viewpoints, and planning skills on MMR knowledge among applied linguistics researchers. Using a cross-sectional, correlational design, data were collected from 83 university professors in Türkiye and Iran through an adapted Mixed Methods Research Proficiency Questionnaire. Structural equation modeling with 5000 bootstrapped resamples was employed to analyze direct, indirect, and total effects. Findings indicate that professional experiences and personal viewpoints do not directly predict MMR knowledge. However, planning skills significantly mediate the relationship between personal viewpoints and MMR knowledge and marginally mediate the effect of professional experiences. Planning skills account for 76.3% of the variance in MMR knowledge, underscoring their critical role in research proficiency. These results highlight the need for targeted training programs to enhance planning skills in MMR, ensuring methodological rigor in applied linguistics research. The study contributes to the ongoing discourse on MMR competency development and offers insights for improving research training in interdisciplinary fields. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025.