A Realist Approach for Qualitative Research
- Joseph A. Maxwell - George Mason University, VA
"Maxwell's book is an outstanding accomplishment. He has connected a tremendous amount of past and present knowledge in it. I especially like the discussions of causation, 'validity', and the methodological significance of viewing culture as distributed." - Burke Johnson, University of South Alabama
"This timely text could at last get us to the tipping point where realistapproaches enter the mainstream of qualitative research. They have gainedwidespread acceptance by philosophers but continue to be regarded withsuspicion by the dominant tribe of constructivist qualitative researchers. Maxwell provides a convincing case that realism helps to resolve many of theproblems they face without deserting cherished aspects of constructivism." - Colin Robson, emeritus Professor of Psychology, University of Huddersfield
"This is the only book that I'm aware of that links issues of epistemology and ontology so directly with qualitative methodologies."- Marianna L. Litovich, Wesleyan University
This is an excellent introduction to qualitative data analysis from a critical realist perspective. It might be slightly above the level of some students undertaking Masters level dissertations, but it is certainly an excellent resource for PhD students thinking of utilising the critical realist approach.
Didn't fit with course objectives but I am referring some students to it as a supplementary text.
This is an excellent text for research students who are using this methodology or want to read further around this type of qualitative method
I didn't find the author's central thesis all that helpful.
The text provided a clear account of the critical realist approach that I found very accessible.
A companion text to existing course book. Very accessible.
This is a very useful text which offers and interesting addition to any research skills module. The realist approach is an easy concept for students to grasp
A bit too specific for an introductory course
useful supporting text to accompany research methods teaching in HE
Very easy to read text bringing together philosophy and practice of qualitative research.
Just what I was looking for in my PhD!