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Qualitative Research Practice
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Qualitative Research Practice
A Guide for Social Science Students and Researchers

Second Edition
Edited by:


January 2014 | 456 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
Why use qualitative methods? What kinds of questions can qualitative methods help you answer? How do you actually do rigorous and reflective qualitative research in the real world?  

Written by a team of leading researchers associated with NatCen Social Research (the National Centre for Social Research) this textbook leads students and researchers through the entire process of qualitative research from beginning to end - moving through design, sampling, data collection, analysis and reporting.   In this fully revised second edition you will find:
  • A practical account of how to carry out qualitative research which recognises a range of current approaches and applications
  • A brand new chapter on ethics
  • A brand new chapter on observational research
  • Updated advice on using software when analysing your qualitative data
  • New case studies which illustrate issues you may encounter and how problems have been tackled by other researchers.  
This book is an ideal guide for students, practitioners and researchers faced with the challenges of doing qualitative research in both applied and academic settings in messy real-life contexts.

Rachel Ormston, Liz Spencer, Matt Barnard, Dawn Snape
The Foundations of Qualitative Research
Jane Ritchie and Rachel Ormston
The Applications of Qualitative Methods to Social Research
Jane Lewis and Carol McNaughton Nicholls
Design Issues
Stephen Webster, Jane Lewis and Ashley Brown
Ethics of Qualitative Research
Jane Ritchie, Jane Lewis, Gilliam Elam, Rosalind Tennant and Nilufer Rahim
Designing and Selecting Samples
Sue Arthur, Martin Mitchell, Jane Lewis and Carol McNaughton Nicholls
Designing Fieldwork
Alice Yeo, Robin Legard, Jill Keegan, Kit Ward, Carol McNaughton Nicholls and Jane Lewis
In-depth Interviews
Helen Finch, Jane Lewis, and Caroline Turley
Focus Groups
Carol McNaughton Nicholls, Lisa Mills and Mehul Kotecha
Observation
Liz Spencer, Jane Ritchie, Rachel Ormston, William O'Connor and Matt Barnard
Analysis: Principles and Processes
 
Traditions and approaches
Liz Spencer, Jane Ritchie, William O'Connor, Gareth Morrell and Rachel Ormston
Analysis in practice
 
Generalisability
Clarissa White, Kandy Woodfield, Jane Ritchie and Rachel Ormston
Writing up qualitative Research

essential reading for students of research and have recommended this title

Mr Jeff Fernandez
Public health, Islington Primary Care Trust
October 13, 2014

A comprehensive and detailed book on all things qualitative. Like the practical approach to various methods and welcome the chapter on Ethics.

Dr Niamh Flanagan
Social Science , University College Dublin
October 8, 2014

As emailed to Paula Carneiro on the 1 Ocotober 2014:

Dear Paula,

My apologies in advance for not responding to your previous email to me. I had every intention to do so, however was caught up with my teaching and research commitments. In addition to the textbook in the email below, two other research books titled Research Methodology by Ranjit Kumar and Introduction to Social Research by Keith Punch have been most useful to my colleagues and students alike who are pursuing their postgraduates studies (PhD and Masters). Seeing that their research work involves a mixed methodology research design, reading these books has enabled them access to, and acquisition of, both qualitative and quantitative research knowledge. They have also reported that the books are written simplistically and this really helps them to grasp core research fundamental principles, particularly with regards to social research an area that they are not familiar with. I will certainly be using these books to supplement the teaching of research to my students, as well as with my own research work.

Thanks to SAGE for making these inspection copies available as this further enables me to request additional copies to be ordered through DUT's library.

Dr Anisa Vahed
Dental Sciences, Durban Institute of Technology
October 8, 2014

This excellent book guides a novice researcher through qualitative research.
The chapter 'Writing up Qualitative Research ' supplies excellent guidelines for a novice researcher.

Mrs Sian Hawkins
Nursing , Florence nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery
September 30, 2014

This is an excellent book. It is clear, informative, well referenced and relevant to social science researchers.

Dr Kathryn Kinmond
Psychology , Manchester Metro Univ.
September 23, 2014

The text is a recommended reference for Bachelor and Master degree students doing their final dissertation project.

Dr Habib Kassim
Acdemic Division, ERC Institute
September 23, 2014

Provides more in-depth information about how to carry out qualitative research projects.

Dr Norma Hedin
School of Leadership, Dallas Baptist University
August 17, 2015

Written in a readable style, this book is a good introduction to qualitative research methods

Mrs Carolyn Felton
Osteopathy, NESCOT
September 9, 2014

This is a good introductory text in the practice of using qualitative methods. It is a suitable text for undergraduate students and provides the basics of qualitative research for postgraduate researchers.

Mr Sebastin Stevens
Faculty of Social Science and Business, University of Plymouth
August 10, 2014

This is one of the very best books on qualitative research that I have come across. Its account of the foundations of qualitative research is unusually clear and highly engaging. The chapters on design, sampling and fieldwork are very informative and practical. The clear distinctions between purpose, process and practicalities of interviews and focus groups are useful. The chapters on analysis, generalisation and writing up are particularly strong and will definitely give students the confidence to undertake qualitative research without undue fear.

Dr Sue Vella
Social Policy & Social Work , Univ. of Malta
July 25, 2014