Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods

By Michael Quinn Patton

Book Overview

This book contains hundreds of examples and stories illuminating all aspects of qualitative inquiry. Patton has created the most comprehensive, systematic review of qualitative methods available.Key Features
Explores, compares and contrasts 16 different theoretical and philosophical approaches to qualitative inquiryOffers strategies for enhancing quality and credibility of qualitative findings Unravels the complexities of mixed methods and triangulation Explains the issues and approaches to fieldwork as well as providing detailed analytical guidelines

Praise for the Edition

"On dissertation proposals on which I have served, Patton is by far the most cited qualitative research text."
--Ian Baptiste, Penn State University

"I am dazzled by the extent of the material that this book describes and clarifies. Patton has shifted the focus of the text to qualitative inquiry in general, which includes qualitative evaluation. New examples from his own work and that of others serve to clarify and deepen understanding of qualitative research topics and processes. New discussion of many current issues and debates in qualitative scholarship (autoethnography, ethical issues of informed consent and confidentiality, focus group/group interviews, computer-assisted analysis, the complexity of creating criteria for judging the quality of qualitative research, etc.) will bring readers up-to-date with the variety in perspectives about (and the variety within) qualitative inquiry. Most of the chapters in the book have been substantially reorganized in ways that augment the reader′s understanding. When anyone asks me about conducting qualitative inquiry, I will say: ′Get Patton′s book′."
--Corrine Glesne, author of Becoming Qualitative Researchers

"Clearly, this is a vastly improved, much more comprehensive, cogently systematic, and timely review-a tour de force, one might say-of the field of qualitative research, in terms of the theoretical, conceptual, methodological, and normative dimensions/foundations of qualitative research. This is one of the strengths of the volume. It seeks to bring together theory and practice/methods without overburdening one or the other--this is as rare as it is commendable, not to mention extremely useful, not only for the professional researcher, but for the "non-professional" as well."
--Lester Edwin J. Ruiz, New York Theological Seminar

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761919716
• ISBN13: 9780761919711
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc
• Length: 688 Pages
• Weight: 3.03 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.8" x 1.5" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

This book was needed for class. I wouldn't have purchased it otherwise. The book came to me in excellent condition and a timely manner.

Superb Text and Reference Book

In all my years of schooling, this is the first text book that I actually read cover-to-cover and most of it twice. Patton has an accessible, human style of writing. He writes with the voice of a mentor and guide. The content is superb. Particularly useful is Patton's use of summarizing tables. These provide for a quick reference and side-by-side comparisons that help simplify, but not dumb down, complex issues such comparitive theory and sampling approaches. Patton's work is also a great jumping off point for more complex research because the book is well indexed and his references broad and authoritative. If I was only going to buy one qualitative research book, this would be it.

Patton: Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods

Nobody writes like Patton. He is very entertaining, and makes his points eloquently. If you have the time, it is a great book which is very informative. If you don't have the time, try Creswell.

In-depth details of qualitative research explained with ease

Patton describes qualitative research design and data collection methods in a way that even the novice researcher can easily understand and utilize.

From ignorant to informed

If you've been asked to gather qualitative research but you've never gathered qualitative research before, then this is the book for you. Unlike other qualitative research books that often focus more on a particular phase of research, this book covers all phases in depth, from conceptual issues and qualitative reseach design to analysis, interpretation, and reporting. If you were to read this book from cover to cover you would enjoy it, but you may yawn once or twice. To ease the boredom factor, the author was kind enough to include jokes and cartoons and sage anecdotes from research guru Halcolm. If you just want to use this book to answer particular research questions, then this is also the right book for you. I've looked at several other qualitative research books and this one seems to address all the major questions a researcher could possibly have. I highly recommend this book for any and all qualitative research neophytes.