The purpose of the research is to evaluate the use of the mixed methods approach in the Department of Public Management and Economics at the University of Technology. The study attempts to answer the extent to which the mixed methods research method is used, the qualification for using the mixed methods approach and the assessment of the research design as a mixed methods approach. A documentary analysis was undertaken of the masters and doctoral dissertations for the period 2010 to 2016 as listed on the institutional repository. The study is significant within the higher education research domain of the newly formed universities of technology, as emerging research institutions, as it provides some valuable insights into the current choice of methodologies and the challenges experienced when using the mixed methods approach. The results indicated a low level of understanding and utilisation of the mixed methods approach. As an emergi