fredandkell
Posted April 9, 2010
I have never written a positive review for a textbook before, as most of them are boring, dry, and a pain to get through. This is one of the few textbooks that I have actually ENJOYED reading. It has really interesting old-timey photographs throughout, and the authors provide relevant case studies about most every topic. It is written in a conversational style that reads more like a novel than a research text. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who needs to undertake qualitative research, and if you must read it for a class, never fear - it's a decent read that will hold your attention.
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Posted June 24, 2010
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More About This Textbook
Overview
This concise, applied, and very clearly written introduction to qualitative research methods can be used effectively in a semester, or year-long course.
This introductory-level text provides the reader with a background for understanding the uses of qualitative research in education (and other professions) examining its theoretical and historical underpinnings, and providing the “how-to's” of doing qualitative research. This new edition places qualitative research within current debates about research methods and alternative ways of knowing. While the authors approach the subject from a sociological perspective, they also take care to reflect the many changes in conceptualization of qualitative research brought by post-structural and feminist thought.
New to This Edition:
· Rewritten Chapter 5, “Data Analysis,” places more emphasis on the interpretive aspect of research and research writing.
· Expanded coverage of action or practitioner research (Chapter 7) highlights a topic that is of immediate use.
· Added emphasis on technology and qualitative analysis software in qualitative research helps students to use and incorporate technology efficiently. Links to useful research websites have also been integrated throughout.
· Expanded coverage of such topics as formal research designs, work with different cultures, critical race theory, and the debate over quantitative vs. qualitative research.
· New end-of-chapter summaries, questions, and field assignments have been added to make this text easy to use with students.
Product Details
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Table of Contents
1. Foundations of Qualitative Research in Education: An Introduction.
Characteristics of Qualitative Research.
Traditions of Qualitative Research.
Theoretical Underpinnings.
Ten Common Questions About Qualitative Research.
Ethics.
What Is to Come.
2. Research Design.
Choosing a Study.
Case Studies.
Multi-Site Studies.
Additional Issues Related to Design.
Concluding Remarks.
3. Fieldwork.
Gaining Access.
First Days in the Field.
The Participant/Observer Continuum.
Doing Fieldwork in Another Culture.
Researcher Characteristics and Special Problems with Rapport.
Be Discreet.
Research in Politically Charged and Conflict-Ridden Settings.
Feelings.
How Long Should an Observation Session Be?
Interviewing.
Visual Recording and Fieldwork.
Triangulation.
Leaving the Field.
4. Qualitative Data.
Some Friendly Advice.
Fieldnotes.
The Process of Writing Fieldnotes.
Transcripts from Taped Interviews.
Documents.
Photography.
Official Statistics and Other Quantitative Data.
Concluding Remarks.
5. Data Analysis.
Analysis in the Field.
Analysis After Data Collection.
The Mechanics of Working with Data.
Concluding Remarks.
6. Writing It Up.
Writing Choices.
More Writing Tips.
Criteria for Evaluating Writing.
Texts.
A Final Point About Getting Started.
7. Applied Qualitative Research for Education.
Evaluation and Policy Research.
Action Research.
Practitioner Uses of Qualitative Research.
Appendix A. Examples of Observational Questions for Educational Settings.
Appendix B. Examples of Fieldnotes.
Glossary.
References.
Index.