title: A mixed methods contribution to the study of health public policies: complementarities and difficulties.
abstract: The use of mixed methods (combining quantitative and qualitative data) is developing in a variety of forms, especially in the health field. Our own research has adopted this perspective from the outset. We have sought all along to innovate in various ways and especially to develop an equal partnership, in the sense of not allowing any single approach to dominate. After briefly describing mixed methods, in this article we explain and illustrate how we have exploited both qualitative and quantitative methods to answer our research questions, ending with a reflective analysis of our experiment.
authors.forename: Valéry
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ridde
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Olivier de Sardan
mesh_terms: D002050:Burkina Faso; D005251:Fees, Medical / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000266:history / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008302:Mali; D008483:Medical Assistance / Q000266:history / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D009548:Niger; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011640:Public Policy / Q000266:history; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012107:Research Design / Q000639:trends