Doing Qualitative Research: A Practical Handbook

By David Silverman and Amir Marvasti

Book Overview

Written in a lively, accessible style, this step-by-step guide provides answers to all the questions students ask when beginning their first research project. David Silverman demonstrates how to learn the craft of qualitative research by applying knowledge about different methodologies to actual data. He provides practical advice on key issues, such as: defining originality′ and narrowing down a topic; keeping a research diary and writing a research report; and presenting research to different audiences.

Packed with case studies and examples of students′ experiences, the book has many features to aid study, including overviews, summaries of key skills and a glossary of terms. Each stage in the research process is grounded in worked examples, with exercises designed both to test students′ knowledge and to encourage the development of practical skills.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761958231
• ISBN13: 9780761958239
• Release Date: December 1999
• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 1.0" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Very encouraging and helpful.

I am new to qualitative research and have been looking for a good guidebook to help me start. Most of the qualitative research reference books I came across have been quite philosophical and not yet taking me through the step. This one is different and it is exactly what I need. Although it is a bit hard to follow at first, the chapters become shorter and easier to digest. I quite like Silverman's encouraging tone and practical suggestions. Some examples are quite difficult to follow, perhaps because of cultural difference. I hope the second edition has improvement over this.

Best book to understand qualitative research or case study

This is the best book on qualitative research I could get hold of to write my thesis. It explains the topics in a very easy to understand manner, especially the theories behind the scenes. It gives very good examples. And the biggest fact is that this book is interesting to read, even with all the dry topics. I really liked the comparison of final chapter of thesis with the ending of a classical symphony.

an introduction to a qualitative research degree

This book offers a good introduction to some of the practicalites of qualitative research for a research degree. Thus much of the book is about research managment and structuring a thesis, issues which are relatively uncommon in books on qualitative research. What it does, it does very well. It does not offer an introduction to qualitative research and the comments on this field are very much from the perspective of Silverman's own research area, conversation analysis. Nonetheless I have found it a very helpful complement to more theoretical qualitative research texts.