The Practice of Qualitative Research 3/e

Sharlene Nagy Hesse-Biber (PhD, University of Michigan) is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Women's Studies & Gender Studies Program at Boston College in Massachusetts. She has published widely on the impact of sociocultural factors on women's body image, including her book Am I Thin Enough Yet? The Cult of Thinness and the Commercialization of Identity, which was selected as one of Choice Magazine's best academic books for 1996. She has also written widely on methodological and methods issues, including the role of technology and emergent methods in social research. Dr. Hesse-Biber is co-editor of Emergent Methods in Social Research and the Handbook of Emergent Methods, as well as co-author of The Practice of Qualitative Research. She is also editor of the Handbook of Feminist Research: Theory and Praxis, which was selected as one of the Critics' Choice Award winners by the American Education Studies Association and was also chosen as one of Choice Magazine's Outstanding Academic titles for 2007. Dr. Hesse-Biber is co-developer of the software program HyperRESEARCH, a computer-assisted program for analyzing qualitative data, and the new transcription tool HyperTRANSCRIBE. For more information, see www.researchware.com.

Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors Part I: Taking a Qualitative Approach to Research Chapter 1: An Invitation to Qualitative Research What's Wrong With This Picture? What Is Qualitative Research? A Holistic Approach to Research What to Learn From This Book Glossary Discussion Questions Resources Chapter 2: Paradigmatic Approaches to Qualitative Research What Are the Major Paradigmatic Approaches to Qualitative Research? Positivism The Interpretive Strand The Critical Strand Conclusion Glossary Discussion Questions Resources Chapter 3: Designing Qualitative Approaches to Research How Do We Know What We Know? What Is a Qualitative Approach to Research? Qualitative Research Inquiry: A Dynamic Dance Conclusion Glossary Discussion Questions Resources Chapter 4: The Ethics of Social Research Why Is Ethical Practice Important? A Short History of Ethics in Research How Are Research Participants Protected Today? Beyond Informed Consent: What Are the Ethical Dilemmas in Social Research? How Can I Observe Ethical Values in My Research Practice? Do New Technologies Impact the Practice of Ethical Research? Conclusion Glossary Discussion Questions Resources Part II. Qualitative Research Practice Chapter 5: In-Depth Interviewing What Is an In-Depth Interview? How Do You Design and Conduct an In-Depth Interview Study? How Do You Conduct an In-Depth Interview How Do You Analyze and Interpret Interviews? Conclusion Glossary Discussion Questions Resources Chapter 6: Focus Group Research What Are Focus Group Interviews? Online Focus Groups Ethics and Focus Group Research Conclusion Glossary Discussion Questions Resources Chapter 7: Ethnography What Is Ethnography? Using an Ethnographic Approach: When Is It Appropriate? Virtual Ethnographic Methods How Do You Gather and Manage Your Ethnographic Data? Conclusion Glossary Discussion Questions Resources Chapter 8: Case Study What Is a Case Study? Reasons for Adopting a Case Study Approach Why Conduct Case Study Research? Case Study Examples Conclusion Glossary Discussion Questions Resources Chapter 9: Researching Mass Media: Images and Texts by Heather McIntosh and Lisa Cuklantz What Is Content Analysis? Strengths and Weaknesses of Quantitative and Qualitative Content Analysis Qualitative Content Analysis of Online Texts How Is the Research Database for Content Analysis Defined and Delimited? Making a Theoretical Contribution Conclusion Glossary Discussion Questions Resources Appendix: Formal Analysis in Film and Television Chapter 10: Mixed Methods Research What Is Mixed Methods Research? What Is a Mixed Methods Research Design? What Is a Qualitatively Driven Approach to Mixed Methods Research Inquiry? Why Do Qualitative Researchers Use Mixed Methods? What to Consider When Conducting a Mixed Methods Research Project Conclusion Glossary Discussion Questions Resources Part III: Tying the Strands Together Chapter 11: Analysis and Interpretation of Qualitative Data What Is Qualitative Data Analysis? What Is Coding? A Grounded Theory Approach to Coding How Do You Code Data? Software for Qualitative Data Analysis How Can I Use a Software Program to Analyze My Qualitative Data? Conclusion Glossary Discussion Questions Resources Chapter 12: Writing and Representation of Qualitative Research Projects Who Is Your Audience? Getting It Done: Writing Up Your Qualitative Research Project Editing and Revising Your Research Paper How Do I Represent the Voices of My Respondents? Conclusion Glossary Discussion Questions Resources Conclusion: Future Directions of Qualitative Research Inquiry The Future of Qualitative Research: Coming at Things Differently What's New in Qualitative Research Practice? Emergent Methods: New Approaches to Old Methods Impact of Online Research on the Process of Qualitative Inquiry Staying Centered and Building Ethical Knowledge Glossary Discussion Questions Resources References Index

This lucid text covers nearly every aspect of qualitative research, with useful attention being paid to the thorny logistics and pragmatic problems often encountered by researchers in the field. It is a great introduction for students and a necessary resource for the more seasoned. -- Brian Creech This is a great step-by-step teaching tool for students on how to conduct qualitative research. -- Kristen K. Bowen With ample examples, The Practice of Qualitative Research provides clear guidance for students who aspire to conduct a qualitative research project. -- Aya Kimura Ida This is a practical and easy-to-use manual for doctoral students in our program. The book is a thorough understanding of all the nuances and challenges of qualitative research with step-by-step approaches. This book takes some of the burden off the doctoral chair and allows the student more independence. I'm impressed! -- Jeanne L. Surface In the new edition examples are clear, relevant, and applicable. Each chapter provides relevant, engaging examples that illustrate the selected method by including transcriptions, research studies, and personal accounts. Students will be required to read this text to learn about qualitative methods, but I predict this is one text they will actually want to read because it brings them stories of insights into the practice of learning the trade. -- Susan L. Wortmann