Imagining the coast: A mixed methods approach to elicit perceptions and conflicts on the West Coast of Ireland

Abstract

This chapter critically explores the challenges and opportunities of adopting a mixed methods approach to coastal change. We reflect on our experiences of a study that involved a tourist survey and participant-led, photo-elicitation focus groups with two coastal communities in Ireland. The survey found that tourists display complex perceptions of coastal landscapes that resonate with local representations as narrated by focus group participants. Despite the contrasting epistemological roots underpinning the different methods adopted, the use of mixed methods offered a fruitful way to understand the nature of coastal change. There are, however, significant challenges when undertaking mixed methods research, relating to the complexity of data integration and balancing different methodological strands, that need to be critically evaluated prior to and during any study.