Using Computers in Qualitative Research

Book Overview

"The book offers communication researchers some of the best recent work on qualitative inquiry in the human disciplines. . . . Published by Sage, the leading publisher of qualitative research in the social sciences today. . . . This] collection is of great value to those researchers drawn to computer assisted forms of ′data analysis.′ The leading figures in this field (including authors of many of the best known programs) are represented. The strengths (retrieval, coding, locating negative cases, building theory) and limitations (endless variable analysis, analytic madness) of these methods are presented. . . . This work brings the communication scholar up-to-date on where qualitative methods are in current sociological and educational discourse." --Norman K. Denzin in Journal of Communication "The title of the book summarizes its content succinctly. Using Computers in Qualitative research pursues an important topic in social science reseach and provides an informative update on the use of computers in field research." --Social Science Computer Review "This book presents a comprehensive analysis as well as practical information about the use of computers in qualitative research. . . . It] indulges the reader in in-depth critical discussion about theory and technical aspects of qualitative analysis through the use of existing software programs." --Rehabilitation Nursing Research "This book stands as one of the must read books for qualitative and would be qualitative researchers. . . . Using Computers in Qualitative Research deserves reading because of the important issues and themes presented." --Qualitative Health Research Computer software for the management and analysis of qualitative data--such as interviews, field notes, and documents--has only recently emerged. Written by an international group of leading experts in the field, this timely review is a comprehensive assessment of recent developments in the use of computers in qualitative research, profiling and comparing the principal programs available. The editors outline research problems that existing and forthcoming software can and cannot handle, consider whether systematic and formal techniques will change the nature of qualitative research, and consider whether the new techniques offer the prospect of achieving a generic theory of qualitative analysis. Using Computers in Qualitative Research is an invaluable resource for those already using the new programs in analysis of qualitative data and an essential tool for researchers with limited computing experience, offering sufficient background to enable readers to select programs. This informative volume will be of interest to academics, researchers and graduate students using qualitative research methods across the social sciences.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803984251
• ISBN13: 9780803984257
• Release Date: June 1991
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.59 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A "How To" Book for Researchers

The complexity of the challenge faced by qualitative researchers using computers is discussed in the opening chapter. Issues, options, potential problems, and the potential associated with the use of computers in research are discussed at length. Lee and Fielding, two UK researchers (and the book's editors) cover the subject matter quite well. In fact, the vast majority of contributors to this book are UK based. A minority of American researchers are included, however.In the second chapter, Renata Tesch (USA) discusses software and looks at program capabilities.Paradigms and research processes in the transformation of qualitative methodology is the issue discussed in chapter 3 by Lyn Richards and Tom Richards. They make the point, "Qualitative method is about understanding data in their context."John Davies has a chapter on automated tools for qualitative research.His chapter is heavily illustrated to clarify his points.The three chapters in part two (chapters 5-7) talk about the implications for research practice.The third part of the book (chapters 8-11) provide closure in addressing qualitative knowledge and computing.This is a nice contribution to the niche it seeks to fill.