Approaches to Qualitative Research: A Reader on Theory and Practice

Book Overview

Qualitative research encompasses a growing set of methods that eschew strictly empirical, quantitative data in favor of information gathered through ethnography, in-depth interviewing, focus groups, and visual research. While it is an important tool in the arsenal of the researcher, there is often a large gap between the theory behind qualitative research and the actual practice of its methods. Approaches to Qualitative Research couples theoretical articles with practical research examples to help students develop a holistic understanding of the process of qualitative research.
Covering a wide range of traditional and emergent research methods, as well as techniques of analysis and writing, the book clearly explains the critical link between theory and method through carefully selected articles and in-depth introductory essays. The essays illustrate key concepts that are crucial to the understanding of qualitative methods, connecting theoretical discussions with "how-to" examples of the research process. Selected for their accessibility, the articles not only reveal the basics of qualitative research but also touch on some current practices including Internet research, computer-driven data analysis, and using still and moving data. Approaches to Qualitative Research is an exemplary text for undergraduate and graduate courses on research methods and qualitative research methods. It is also an ideal companion volume to Sharlene Nagy Hesse-Biber and Michelle Yaiser's Feminist Perspectives on Social Research (OUP, 2004).

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195157753
• ISBN13: 9780195157758
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 560 Pages
• Weight: 1.79 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Fantastic methods book for undergraduate and graduate students

We used this book in a senior undergraduate field research course within sociology. It was a fantastic learning aid, very comprehensive and well written. The entire scope of the various possible research types are here, from grounded research to image data to focus groups to feminist methods to Foucauldian knowledge inquiries. There is even a chapter that deals with conducting research on race issues by showing how even the seemingly straightforward racial categorization of "white" needs to be challenged. It really forced the class to come to terms with their own assumptions. My favourite chapers were: - Prior's chapter on text and research, "Following in Foucault's Footsteps", - Miller & Crabtree's chapter on "Depth Interviewing" - Guba & Lincoln's chapter on how a researcher's personal ontology affects their methodology in "Competing Paradigms in Qualitative Research: Theories and Issues". - Charmaz' chapter on "Grounded Theory" The only quibble I have with the work in here is the chapter on online methods. It is rather outdated and based on old assumptions about the Internet. For example, when dealing with how to do research using email, it tells the budding researcher that they need to learn HTML in order to properly format their emails in an attractive manner and makes no mention of the online web-based survey tools widely available for online questionnaires. This small quibble aside, the book is great and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is starting to explore qualitative methods or to someone who is looking to expand their repertoire of research methods but doesn't want to have to take an entire course.