Readme First for a User's Guide to Qualitative Methods

by Lyn Richards

The Third Edition of this popular text offers those new to qualitative inquiry a clear and practical guide to the reasons for doing qualitative research, matching questions to appropriate methods, and the tasks necessary for getting started. In their direct and friendly style, Lyn Richards and Janice M. Morse help researchers reflect on why they are working qualitatively and how to choose an appropriate method, and then approach confidently the tasks of research design, data making, coding, analyzing, and, finally, writing up results. "This text offers current thinking in the field. The authors are well-established qualitative researchers and have pulled off a great text for the beginning researcher." - Matthew A. Eichler, Texas State University-San Marcos"The key strength of this text is the discussion and presentation of how to think about qualitative research. This is the only text that discusses the process of thinking before doing at any stage of the research project, from the general idea to the writing up and submitting for publication." - Ruth Segal, Seton Hall University"The text is very clear and well organized, and accessible for new students. In comparison to many other introductory texts, it really brings to the fore the need for theoretical and methodological coherence." - Irina L. G. Todorova, Northeastern Universit

336 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Sebah Al-Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

كتاب لطيف/خفيف. لا يناقش النظريات البحثية بعمق يشبه عمق كتاب
cohen،
لكن لطيف ككتاب مرافق. أعجبني مبدأ/فكرة/مصطلح الـ :
Methodological congruence

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مما اقتبسته:

"Although different qualitative methods may utilize similar strategies, how you think while using particular strategies differs."

Methodological congruence -> "that is, fit between the research question and the method; and, of course, fit among the method, the data, and the way of handling data."

"Qualitative research is not just a matter of performing techniques on data; rather, each qualitative method has a specific way of thinking about data and using techniques as tools to manipulate data to achieve a goal."

"Most qualitative research is done with more interpretive methods that move "up" from descriptions to theories about processes and experiences discovered. These are for projects aiming to see both "what is going on" and also what it means, or how it could be explained."

"The more descriptive methods are those whose primary goal is to describe a situation or phenomenon vividly and in detail, to give a clear picture of "what is going on. They are used when the researcher aims to reveal what is there, or link processes."

"In very different ways, such a combination of description and interpretation is offered by grounded theory and discourse analysis. Studies using either may draw on existing higher-level or may use their own data to discover and build new theory."

"Research questions in grounded theory are about process and change over time, and the methods of making and analyzing data reflect a commitment to understanding the ways in which reality is socially constructed. The assumption is that through detailed exploration, with theoretical sensitivity, the researcher can construct theory grounded in data."

"This [grounded theory] is an appropriate method for the researcher wishing to learn from the participants how to understand a process or a situation. The questions themselves suggest the examination of a process. Thus, grounded theory studies are usually situated in experiences in which change is expected, ..."

[Kristina]

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