Navigating Complexity Through Mixed Methods Research: Insights from a Large-Scale Interdisciplinary Environmental Study of Biodiversity and Human Wellbeing

This paper explores the challenge of navigating complexity within mixed methods research process, drawing on a large-scale interdisciplinary environmental project exploring the wellbeing dimensions of human interaction with woodland biodiversity. Reflecting on the design and implementation of a multiphase mixed methods project involving over 9,000 participants, we examine how complexity emerged through the phenomenon under investigation, the structure of the research design, and the collaborations through which knowledge was produced. The study integrated diverse methods, data sources, and analytical approaches across two phases of inquiry, generating diverse outputs. Beyond field-specific methodological innovations, we argue that large-scale interdisciplinary environmental research provides a productive context for understanding the emergence, operation, and methodological value of complex mixed methods designs.