Five Ways of Doing Qualitative Analysis: Phenomenological Psychology, Grounded Theory, Discourse Analysis, Narrative Research, and Intuitive Inquiry

by Frederick J. Wertz, Kathy Charmaz, Linda M. McMullen

This unique text provides a broad introduction to qualitative analysis together with concrete demonstrations and comparisons of five major approaches. Leading scholars apply their respective analytic lenses to a narrative account and interview featuring "Teresa," a young opera singer who experienced a career-changing illness. The resulting analyses vividly exemplify what each approach looks like in action. The researchers then probe the similarities and differences among their approaches; their distinctive purposes and strengths; the role, style, and subjectivity of the individual researcher; and the scientific and ethical complexities of conducting qualitative research. Also included are the research participant's responses to each analysis of her experience. A narrative account from another research participant, "Gail," can be used by readers to practice the kinds of analysis explored in the book.

Genres: Psychology, Research, Qualitative Research, Textbooks, Nonfiction

434 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2011

Reviews

[Sara Best · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five ways of Doing Qualitative Analysis was very useful. Specifically, it described in detail 3 other methods that were not described in the last book I read on this topic, so it broadened my understanding of the scope of qualitative research. I liked seeing the direct comparison of the same data analysis five different ways as well as the response from the participant. The last chapter was the most helpful. The comparison of the methods gave a good 'big-picture' view and the discussion of ethics and participant involvement will be valuable as I move into my own research design phase.

[Catherine Fourboul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Ways of Doing Qualitative Analysis offers a rare comparative perspective on five distinct qualitative traditions—Phenomenological Psychology, Constructivist Grounded Theory, Discourse Analysis, Narrative Research, and Intuitive Inquiry—applied to the same case. This design gives readers a practical view of how methodological choices influence data interpretation. For students in management and organizational studies, it is a valuable resource to:
• Understand methodological diversity: It highlights different epistemological stances and analytical logics, aiding in selecting a method aligned with research questions in areas such as leadership, organizational culture, or change management.
• Learn through demonstration: Using a common dataset enables direct comparison of analytical steps, from coding to interpretation, which is rarely offered in methodological texts.
• Reflect on the researcher’s role: The book underscores reflexivity, ethics, and the impact of researcher–participant relationships—crucial in managerial contexts where power and stakeholder engagement matter.

When to read it:
• At the design stage of a qualitative project, to clarify which approach best matches your research goals.
• When preparing to supervise or evaluate qualitative work, to develop a nuanced understanding of different quality criteria.
• In mixed-methods contexts, to integrate qualitative depth with quantitative breadth.

Limitations:
• The single primary case study (“Teresa”) is rich but atypical for organizational research; its personal, health-related narrative may feel distant from business contexts.
• Space constraints mean the book offers overviews, not full procedural manuals; beginners will need complementary, approach-specific texts for operational guidance.
• The five approaches chosen, while influential, do not cover the full range of methods relevant to management research (e.g., ethnography, case study).

This volume is best seen as a comparative orientation tool rather than a stand-alone “how-to” manual. Its greatest value for management students lies in sharpening methodological literacy, fostering critical awareness of interpretive choices, and encouraging methodological pluralism.

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The format of this book (five accounts of analysis on the same interview transcript) is smart and useful, almost moreso than the content itself. Coming from a quantitative background, this book was formative for helping me understand what qual philosophies can be, and what analysis can look like. I've used it many times to start conversations about qualitative work in my Computer Science department. It is full of rhetorical flourishes (which isn't necessarily bad) and can be dense to wade through, so if you're looking for something to get you up to speed quickly or give you a lay of the land, I'd hunt down a handbook instead.

[Stephen Antczak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this three stars only because the "Teresa texts" and seeing the various ways it is analyzed makes it worth reading. I read sections of this for a class on Narrative Psychology, and then other sections for a class on Human Science Methodologies, and decided to read the rest during the winter break. A little heavy with the postmodernist/critical/constructivist ideology, but aside from some obvious attempts at literary flourish and one contributor pushing pseudoscience, it is generally interesting.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm *learning* qualitative analysis, so the specifics are actually not as helpful as the editors/writers apparently hoped they would be. The chapter on grounded theory in particular just seems generic--coding and memoing? Seriously? So far what I've read in this book has not been enlightening.