In 1989, Jennifer Greene and colleagues introduced the idea of complementarity in mixed methods research (MMR) without referencing the parallels within physics. Complementarity in physics represents the idea that two contrasted theories are necessary to explain a set of phenomena, such as the wave–particle duality. Few MMR studies provide clear examples of complementarity, and some have questioned if complementarity is possible. However, the creator of Q methodology, William Stephenson, physicist and psychologist, made numerous connections between his methodology and quantum theory, including complementarity. The purpose of this article is to describe complementarity within Q methodology and physics and connect these definitions to complementarity as discussed within the MMR community.

1989 年，Jennifer Greene 及其同事在没有参考物理学中的相似之处的情况下，在混合方法研究 (MMR) 中引入了互补性的想法。物理学中的互补性代表这样一种观点，即解释一组现象（例如波粒二象性）需要两种截然不同的理论。很少有 MMR 研究提供互补性的明确例子，有些人质疑互补性是否可能。然而，Q 方法论的创造者、物理学家和心理学家威廉斯蒂芬森在他的方法论和量子理论之间建立了许多联系，包括互补性。本文的目的是描述 Q 方法论和物理学中的互补性，并将这些定义与 MMR 社区中讨论的互补性联系起来。