Qualitative Research Design: An Interactive Approach

by Maxwell Joseph A.

Qualitative Research Design: An Interactive Approach provides researchers and students with a user-friendly, step-by-step guide to planning qualitative research. It shows how the components of design interact with each other, and provides a strategy for creating coherent and workable relationships among these design components, highlighting key design issues. Written in an informal, jargon-free style, the new Third Edition incorporates examples and hands-on exercises.

Genres: Research, Education, School, Nonfiction, Research Methods, Qualitative Research, Grad School

229 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 12, 2012

Reviews

[Eduardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as part of the curriculum of a graduate-level class in qualitative research methods. I had previously read two chapters for a different class but I am happy that I have now read the entire book.

It can be said that this book is introductory, in that it does not assume much knowledge about research but it is certainly not a book to be read to gain general knowledge about qualitative research. It is, as the title points out, about designing research. It is a soup-to-nuts guide to taking a topic of inquiry and turning it into a proposal. In the course of that process, Maxwell also lays out many guiding principles for actually carrying out the research. This is only natural, given that Maxwell takes an "interactive approach", meaning that carrying out the research influences the research design and vice versa.

[Apostolos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite a short book (in comparison to other methods books I've read) but it was quite good. It's definitely packed with good insight and things to make you think about what you want to consider when it comes to writing your research proposal. At the end of each chapter there are memoing exercises that directly deal with the topic of that chapter, and help get you started on the regular writing that is required for this endeavor.

[Rachel Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maxwell's text is both easy to read and insightful. I loved his examples of different types of qualitative research. The text also provides practical and helpful advice on publishing and research proposals. This should be a required text for anyone pursuing qualitative research options.

[Kate Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended by my qualitative research professor, Dr. Kendall Bronk, this book quickly became an essential resource for me. Its clear approach to designing qualitative research enabled it to earn a permanent place on my desk as a go-to reference.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful, but left wanting more! It is a must read, however!

[Gerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

There aren't lots of quality textbook on qualitative research design. This one screams quality, with down-to-earth, easy to understand language. Great job!

[Elliedakota · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second read. Good general info but I’m looking specifically for guidance in designing a method for examining artifacts and there wasn’t much help here.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good guide for people working on a qualitative dissertation. I had originally read the 2nd edition but my advisor asked me to read the 3rd… it’s not that different…

[Jazmine the illustrator · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a textbook

[Jenn C Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful while crafting my methodology section.

[Navin Valrani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise summary of qualitative research till the dissertation proposal stage with live examples of conceptual frameworks, methodologies and data analysis. Good pre-read for a qualitative researcher.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a Leadership Research and Design Logic post-graduate course. The writing was accessible. There were times when the book took direct aim at validity and supported actions that I would have intuitively considered threats to research validity (particularly internal validity). Upon reflection, though, it seems perfectly logical that the researcher should be allowed to let on-going research influence the original research questions. The researcher, though, MUST be forthcoming in subsequent write-ups as to why such influence was present. In qualitative research, evidence as to the evolution of research questions could form the primary helpful-ness of the study.

This text serves as a suitable introduction to qualitative research. Maxwell's examples and activities are quite helpful at strengthening comprehension of the book's content. It should not be read lightly, though, as there are passages that feel incomplete or, as I noted earlier, some counter-intuitive for the novice researcher.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably one of my favorite qualitative design books because it is easy to read with fabulous examples. It helps you to really think about the design of qualitative research by focusing on the key points. If you are new to qualitative research I would recommend you use this book in conjunction with other textbooks such as those by Patton, Miles or Creswell.

[Andrea Lakly · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you had asked me if I understood Qualitative Research Design, I would have said yes. I actually didn't know anything but the name. This is one of my favorite textbooks ever. Usually dry, boring, and markedly unexceptional, textbooks earn their bad name, but this book was actually fascinating, and it challenged all my assumptions about research and what makes it valid.

[Zainelabdin Zarroug]

The case of the misleading funnel plot

[Tracy Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastically useful book