Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods :A Guidebook and Resource

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Description

An informative real-world guide to studying the "why" of human behavior

Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods is a practical, comprehensive guide to the collection and presentation of qualitative data. Unique in the market, this book describes the entire research process — from design through writing — illustrated by examples of real, complete qualitative work that clearly demonstrates how methods are used in actual practice. This updated fourth edition includes all new case studies, with additional coverage of mixed methods, non-sociological settings, funding, and a sample interview guide. The studies profiled are accompanied by observation field notes, and the text includes additional readings for both students and instructors. More than just theory, this guide is designed to give you a real-world practitioner's view of how qualitative research is handled every step of the way.

Many different disciplines rely on qualitative research as a method of inquiry, to gain an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the governing forces behind it. Qualitative research asks "why" and "how," and the data is frequently complex and difficult to measure. This book shows you how to effectively handle qualitative work, regardless of where it's being applied.

  • Understand the strengths and limitations of qualitative data
  • Learn how experts work around common methodological issues
  • Compare actual field notes to the qualitative studies they generated
  • Examine the full range of qualitative methods throughout the research process

Whether you're studying sociology, psychology, marketing, or any number of other fields, especially in the social and behavioral sciences, human behavior is the central concern of your work. So what drives human behavior? That's what qualitative research helps to explain. Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods gives you the foundation you need to begin seeking answers.

Chapter

Notes

Chapter 2 Research Design and Pre-Fieldwork

Research Design

Selecting Settings

Obtaining Institutional Review Board Approval

Writing Proposals

Access to Organizations

Access to Public and Quasi-Public Settings

Access to Private Settings

What Do You Tell Gatekeepers and Informants?

Collecting Data About Obtaining Access

Covert Research

Chapter 3 Participant Observation: In the Field

Entering the Field

Negotiating Your Role

Establishing Rapport

Participation

Key Informants

Difficult Field Relations

Forming Relationships

Field Tactics

Asking Questions

Learning the Language

Field Notes

Boundaries of a Study

Leaving the Field

Triangulation

Ethics in the Field

Chapter 4 In-Depth Interviewing

The Qualitative Interview

Types of Interview Studies

Choosing to Interview

Selecting Informants

Approaching Informants

Understanding the Interview in Context

Managing the Interview Situation

Getting People to Talk About What Is Important to Them

The Interview Guide

Probing

Cross-Checks

Relations With Informants

Recording Interviews

Group Interviews

The Interviewer's Journal

Note

Chapter 5 Montage: Discovering Methods

Disrupting the "Commonsense World of Everyday Life'': Harold Garfinkel

Qualitative Research as Autobiography

Entering a World Without Words

Personal Documents

Picturing Disability

Photography and Videotaping

Official Records and Public Documents

Historical and Archival Research

Notes

Chapter 6 Working With Data: Data Analysis in Qualitative Research

Narratives: Descriptive and Theoretical Studies

Building Theory

Working With Data

Constructing Life Histories

Part 2 Writing Qualitative Research: Selected Studies

Chapter 7 Writing and Publishing Qualitative Studies

What You Should Tell Your Readers

Some Tips on Writing

Common Mistakes in Writing From Qualitative Data

Publishing Qualitative Studies

Selected Studies

Chapter 8 "You're Not a Retard, You're Just Wise'': Disability, Social Identity, and Family Networks

The Duke Family

The Study

Disability Labels and Family Constructions

Social Identities

Conclusion

Notes

References

Chapter 9 Producing Family Time: Practices of Leisure Activity Beyond the Home

Methods and Data

Findings

Discussion: Family as Socially Organized Practice

Notes

References

Chapter 10 Ethnicity and Expertise: Racial-Ethnic Knowledge in Sociological Research

Method

Analysis

Discussion

Notes

References

Chapter 11 Citizen Portraits: Photos of People With Disabilities as Personal Keepsakes

Settings

Hiding Disability

Conclusions

Notes

References

Chapter 12 "They Asked for a Hard Job'': World War II Conscientious Objectors on the Front Lines

Note

References

Closing Remarks

Appendix 1 Field Notes

Appendix 2 Interview Guide Template

References

Author Index

Subject Index

EULA

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