Mixing methods in audience research practice

Audience research in the performing arts is a field united by its research object – audiences – yet constituted by a wide range of methodological approaches from varied disciplines. As researchers seek to understand audience experience from diverse perspectives, they often mix methods, disciplines, epistemologies and paradigms, through all stages of the research process. While mixing method(ologie)s is by no means a new practice, scholars argue that historically discussions have tended to focus on the mechanics of mixing methods, with comparatively less focus on the implications of integrating different research strategies. This chapter explores three case studies that utilise both ‘complementary’ and ‘generative’ strategies as manifested within: audience reception studies; an interdisciplinary art/science collaboration; and a participatory methodology. This is followed by an example from the author’s own research practice, which uses facet methodology to expand our framing of what constitutes the messy and multidimensional lived experiences of the performing arts. The chapter concludes by considering the crucial role of mixed-methods practice in broadening not only the epistemological discourses of the field, but its ontological horizons as well.