Key points at a glance
- Decide which results should speak to one another.
- Compare convergence and disagreement in one place.
- Draw a combined conclusion within the design’s limits.
Choose an integration point
Will interviews explain survey results, will the two strands test different perspectives, or will one phase shape the next? Specify the connection before analysis. The strands need not be equal in size, but each needs a purpose.
Compare findings in a joint display
Example: A survey finds low use of office hours; interviews point to confusing booking. Put the number, qualitative explanation and unresolved question in one row. A joint display is a reasoning tool, not merely a decorative chart.
Investigate disagreement
If interviewees express enthusiasm but the survey shows low satisfaction, check whether populations, timing or wording differ. Do not hide the discrepancy with selective extracts. It may be the most useful finding.
Limit the combined claim
Explain what connecting strands reveals beyond either alone, and what remains uncertain. A few interviews may make a survey association more understandable; they do not automatically establish causation.
Final submission context
Formal details can feel like a separate writing task, but they matter just as much for a printed submission. Anything missing, misplaced or inconsistently formatted in the document will also appear in the bound copy.
Use this guide together with your cover page, table of contents, page numbers, source notes and appendices. Prepare the final PDF for printing and binding only after the complete file has been checked.
Practical check before PDF export
- Do headings, chapter structure and page numbers match?
- Are sources, figures and tables included completely?
- Are required elements such as declarations, appendices or the cover page included where required?
- Did you open and check the final PDF after exporting it?
Checklist
- Integration purpose stated.
- Related findings compared.
- Disagreements examined.
- Combined inference bounded.
Common mistakes
- Placing two methods side by side without connection.
- Quoting only confirming accounts.
- Treating explanation as causal proof.
Prepare the finished thesis for submission
Once the content and university requirements are checked, review your PDF and the available printing and binding options.
Review printing optionsRelated content
Explore related guidance on thesis structure, sources, formatting and final submission.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a joint display?
Not always, but a clear matrix can make integration auditable.
May findings conflict?
Yes. Examine why rather than concealing the mismatch.
Must both strands be equal in size?
No. Their roles follow the research question and design.