From climate change to water security - there are some problems facing the world that often seem unsolvable. So how can researchers stay positive about the role they have in tackling these huge challenges and which research methods should they consider using? In this episode of our podcast, Dr Donna Mertens, Professor Emeritus at Gallaudet University in Washington DC, and keynote speaker at the 2018 Research Methods Festival, calls on researchers to stay optimistic about the role they have in beating the world's ‘wicked’ problems and explains why she believes a mixed methods is key to doing research in troubling times.