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Qualitative Research Design
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Qualitative Research Design
An Interactive Approach

Third Edition


August 2012 | 232 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
This book gives researchers and students a user-friendly, step-by-step guide to planning qualitative research. Based on a course that the author taught for 7 years at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, it is written in an informal, jargon-free style and incorporates many examples and hands-on exercises. Rather than the rigid, linear approach to design that is usually found in research methods textbooks--and which is particularly ill suited for qualitative research--this book presents a flexible, systemic model of design. This model not only better fits what experienced qualitative researchers actually do, but provides a clear framework for designing a study and developing a research proposal. This edition includes new or substantially expanded discussions of research paradigms, defining a research problem, site and participant selection, relationships with research participants, data analysis, and validity, as well as more examples and exercises.

 
Chapter 1. A Model for Qualitative Research Design
 
Chapter 2. Goals: Why Are You Doing This Study?
 
Chapter 3. Conceptual Framework: What Do You Think Is Going On?
 
Chapter 4. Research Questions: What Do You Want to Understand?
 
Chapter 5. Methods: What Will You Actually Do?
 
Chapter 6. Validity: How Might You Be Wrong?
 
Chapter 7. Research Proposals: Presenting and Justifying a Qualitative Study
 
Appendix A. A Proposal for a Study of Medical School Teaching
 
Appendix B. A Proposal for a Study of Online Learning by Teachers

Useful book for students undertaking qualitative research

Mrs sharon arkell
School of Health (Walsall), Wolverhampton University
June 20, 2017

Good book for qualitative research design. Used as a secondary text.

Ms Mary Fambrough
Sch Of Organization Stds, Alliant Intl Univ-San Fran Bay
November 3, 2016

comprehensive, well written

Mr Loek Stolwijk
Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam
March 14, 2016

This really is an excellent text which covers a vast range of qualitative research approaches - and is very readable

Dr Louise Taylor
Faculty of Health and Social Care, Chester University
August 14, 2015

Maxwell's book has been very helpful to my students to make a conceptual design for their research. They were asked to read the first 3 chapters carefully and make the Chapter 2 assignment. Some students had never thought about their qualitative research in this way. I adopted the book as reference, however I would have made it essential to the course if the price were more reasonable. I think 26 pounds would be acceptable.
Maxwell's book gives a common-sense approach to designing social research. I used it to provide a framework for integrating discourse analysis in social research.

Miss Bertie Kaal
Department of Language & Communication, Free University, Amsterdam
October 12, 2015

Although a very good book, we cover more material than the focus of this book and we would have to adopt too many texts for our students.

Professor Teresa Stuffer
Education Dept, Great Basin Clg-Elko
April 22, 2016

Student options to use as a supplemental text

Professor Erhabor Sunday Idemudia
School of Research & Postgraduate Studies, HSS , North-West University (MaFikeng Campus)
October 21, 2015

A thorough and articulate presentation of the steps involved in planning and proposing qualitative research.

Mr John Pierce
Health & Leisure, Tralee Institute of Technology
April 4, 2016

This is an excellent book, well written and provides the reader with text to refer to when planning and writing about qualitative research. The model for qualitative research design helps students and those new to qualitative research find a way of thinking about how to design a study. I have found this book to be extremely helpful, the writing is clear and in places so insightful. I wish I had read this book three years ago!

Mr Andrew B Horrell
Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Edinburgh University
September 4, 2015

A great resource, easy to follow and logical.

Miss Donna Lacey
Nursing Practice, Fac of Health & SCS, Kingston University
June 23, 2015
Key features

New to the Third Edition

  • Provides new and expanded coverage of key topics such as paradigms in qualitative research, conceptual frameworks and using theory, doing literature reviews, and writing research proposals

Key Features

  • Offers an original, innovative model of design based on a systemic rather than a linear or typological structure, well suited for designing studies and writing research proposals
  • Includes many exercises that help readers to design their study
  • Provides guidance in a clear, direct writing style, offering practical advice on research design

Sample Materials & Chapters

toc

ch 1

ch 3


For instructors

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