Explanatory Sequential Design

A mixed-methods research design in which a quantitative phase is conducted first — typically a survey or other structured measurement — and its results are then used to guide a follow-up qualitative phase (often semi-structured interviews) that explores or explains the quantitative findings in depth. The sequential ordering lets researchers identify patterns or outliers statistically, then return to participants to understand why those patterns exist. In accessibility research with disabled communities, explanatory sequential designs are popular because they combine broad community reach with the narrative detail needed to surface lived experience and systemic contradictions.