Need practical advice on how to do your first qualitative research project? This book will guide you through each step of the research process: from brainstorming ideas and working with your supervisor to navigating the field to writing up your results.
Driven by examples from other students' projects, the book features discussions on translating social problems into research topics, collecting data in the wake of a pandemic, and guidance from Qualitative Data Analysis Software expert Christian Schmieder to help you summarise, categorise, and review qualitative data. A new chapter on how much data you need answers the age-old question: 'how many interviews or case studies are enough?'
It also includes:
- Articles and websites to build your bibliography
- Questions to test your knowledge
- Videos from world-leading qualitative experts
- Activities to dig deeper into key concepts and think critically about research
- Lessons-learned discussions with other researchers
- Exercises to help you choose the right path for your project.
Key features: in addition to the online Silverman Workshops, the book includes top tips, end-of-chapter checklists to test your understanding, and annotated further reading so you can develop your knowledge further.
Part One: Introduction
Chapter 1: How To Use This Book
Chapter 2: What You Can (and Can't) Do with Qualitative Research
What is Qualitative Research?
Why Do Some Researchers Prefer Qualitative Methods?
Are Qualitative Methods Always Appropriate?
Should You Use Qualitative Methods?
Chapter 3: Focusing a Research Project
Moira's Research Diary
Sally's Research Diary
Simon's Research Diary
Part Two: Starting Out and Project Foundations
Chapter 4: Formulating a Research Question
Challenges
Solutions
Some Cautions
Chapter 5: Ethical Research
The Standards of Ethical Research
Why Ethics Matter for Your Research
Ethical Guidelines in Practice
Complex Ethical Issues
Research Governance
Conclusion: Managing Unfolding Ethical Demands
Chapter 6: Research Design
Interviews
Ethnographies
Texts
The Internet
Audio Data
Visual Data
Mixed Methods
Chapter 7: Using Theories
How Theoretical Models Shape Research
The Different Languages of Qualitative Research
Theories, Models and Hypotheses
Examples
Chapter 8: Choosing a Methodology
Qualitative or Quantitative?
Your Research Strategy
Choosing a Methodology: A Case Study
Naturally Occurring Data?
Mixed Methods?
Chapter 9: Writing a Research Proposal
Aim for Crystal Clarity
Plan Before You Write
Be Persuasive
Be Practical
Make Broader Links
A Caution: Misunderstanding Qualitative Research?
Part Three: Getting Support
Chapter 10: Making Good Use of Your Supervisor
Supervision Horror Stories
Student and Supervisor Expectations
The Early Stages
The Later Stages
Standards of Good Practice
Chapter 11: Getting Feedback
Writing
Speaking
The Art of Presenting Research
Feedback from the People You Study
Part Four: Collecting and Analysing Data
Chapter 12: How much data do you need?
The Quantitative Model of Generalization
How many interviews do you need?
Purposive Sampling in interview research
What is a case study?
The Rationale of Case Study Design
Case Study Research in Practice
Theoretical sampling
Chapter 13: Collecting Your Data
Collecting Interview Data
Collecting Focus Group Data
Collecting Ethnographic Data
Collecting Internet Data
Collecting Your Data in the Wake of a Pandemic
Chapter 14: Developing Data Analysis
Kick-Starting Data Analysis
A Case Study
Interviews
Fieldnotes
Transcripts
Visual Data
Chapter 15: Using Qualitative Data Analysis Software: An Introduction
What is Qualitative Data Analysis Software?
Software for Qualitative Analysis? Great - so will it do analysis for me?
OK, so how can this software help me?
If I decide to use QDAS, do I have to use the program for all aspects of my analysis?
You continue to mention writing - why is that so important?
Will QDAS help my teamwork?
Hopes and Fears connected to using QDAS
What hardware do I need to run QDAS?
What are some strategies for learning to use QDAS, and to see if a specific software will work for my project?
Tips for doing analysis with QD
Chapter 16: Quality in Qualitative Research
Validity
Reliability
Chapter 17: Effective Qualitative Research
Keep It Simple
Do Not Assume That We Are Only Concerned with Subjective Experience
Take Advantage of Using Qualitative Data
Avoid Drowning in Data
Avoid Journalism
Part Five: Writing Up Your Research
Chapter 18: What Counts as 'Originality'?
Originality
Being a Professional
Independent Critical Thought
Chapter 19: Considering Your Audience
The Policy-Making Audience
The Practitioner Audience
The Lay Audience
Chapter 20: The First Few Pages
The Title
The Abstract
Keywords
The Table of Contents
The Introduction
Chapter 21: The Literature Review Chapter
Recording Your Reading
Writing Your Literature Review
Practical Questions
Principles
Do You Need a Literature Review Chapter?
Chapter 22: The Methodology Chapter
What Should the Methodology Chapter Contain?
A Natural History Chapter?
Chapter 23: Writing Your Data Chapters
The Macrostructure
The Microstructure
Tightening up
Chapter 24: Your Concluding Chapter
The Concluding Chapter as Mutual Stimulation
What Exactly Should Your Concluding Chapter Contain?
Confessions and Trumpets
Theorizing as Thinking Through Data
Writing for Audiences
Why Your Concluding Chapter Can Be Fun
Part Six: The Aftermath
Chapter 25: Managing an Oral Examination
Viva Horror Stories
Preparing for Your Oral
Doing the Oral
Outcomes
Revising Your Thesis after the Oral
A Case Study
Chapter 26: Getting Published
The Backstage Politics of Publishing
Strategic Choices
What Journals are Looking For
Reviewers' Comments
How to Write a Short Journal Article
