This article discusses the challenges faced by early career researchers in educational research, particularly the ongoing debate between qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The authors argue that research texts and university courses should include mixed methods and address the perceived dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative research. They emphasize the importance of understanding research paradigms, which are the underlying theoretical frameworks that influence research design and methodology. The article reviews various research paradigms, including positivist, interpretivist/constructivist, transformative, and pragmatic, and discusses how they influence research methods and data collection. The authors also highlight the confusion caused by the use of terms like qualitative and quantitative, which are often used to describe research paradigms rather than research methods. They argue that mixed methods research is a valid and effective approach that combines qualitative and quantitative methods to provide a more comprehensive understanding of research questions. The article also discusses the role of paradigms in research and the importance of understanding the relationship between paradigms, methodologies, and research questions. The authors conclude that mixed methods research should be more widely adopted in educational research to enhance the depth and richness of research findings.This article discusses the challenges faced by early career researchers in educational research, particularly the ongoing debate between qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The authors argue that research texts and university courses should include mixed methods and address the perceived dichotomy between qualitative and quantitative research. They emphasize the importance of understanding research paradigms, which are the underlying theoretical frameworks that influence research design and methodology. The article reviews various research paradigms, including positivist, interpretivist/constructivist, transformative, and pragmatic, and discusses how they influence research methods and data collection. The authors also highlight the confusion caused by the use of terms like qualitative and quantitative, which are often used to describe research paradigms rather than research methods. They argue that mixed methods research is a valid and effective approach that combines qualitative and quantitative methods to provide a more comprehensive understanding of research questions. The article also discusses the role of paradigms in research and the importance of understanding the relationship between paradigms, methodologies, and research questions. The authors conclude that mixed methods research should be more widely adopted in educational research to enhance the depth and richness of research findings.