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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

Not adopted for my graduate level course on ethnographic research methods. The book is used in another one of our qualitative research courses

Dr Armando Trujillo
Bicultural Bilingual Stds Div, University of Texas
October 16, 2013

We looked at a number of research design books,and ended up adopting a more comprehensive Educational Research methods book that included both qualitative and quantitative research design.

Professor Laurie Gatlin
Art Dept, California State University - Long Beach
September 5, 2013

A useful text for post grad/students interested in research

Ms Karen Hillison
Department of Social Work, Hull University
August 6, 2013

covers all the elements of design succinctly with great exercises

Dr Trey Stohlman
Broadcast Cinematic Arts Dept, Central Michigan University
July 17, 2013

A little too specific for my survey course. Ordered for Library.

Dr John Hedgcock
GSTILE, Monterey Institute of International Studies
June 29, 2013

Haven't ever found a clearer and more useful book for research design than Maxwell's.

Dr Corrine Glesne
Education, University of Vermont
May 24, 2013

still considering for a fall course but did not adopt in prior semester

Dr Kathryn Obenchain
Curriculum Instruction Dept, Purdue University
April 15, 2013

Maxwell's book is an excellent reference on how to design a qualitative research study. It provides a systematic approach to designing such studies. The book is particularly useful for researchers who have little background in qualitative research. I particularly like his discussion on Conceptual Frameworks. I will recommend this book to the physicians I am mentoring for their graduate thesis.

Professor Nina Consorcia Castillo-Carandang
Clinical Epidemiology, University of the Philippines, Manila
April 10, 2013

This is an excellent tekst, published within applied social research methods series, on qualitative research design for students willing to start or those who just started their dissertation. Maxwell clearly, with numerous examples, explains how to define the five key elements of the research design: research goals, conceptual framework, research questions, methods, and, often forgotten by others, validity of the research. Also useful is the last chapter on writing of research proposals, which deals with such issues as justification of a qualitative study.

Mrs Beata Kviatek - Simanska
School of Communication & Media, Hanze University
April 10, 2013

Use book for qualitative research.

Dr Lisa Carvallo
Online Teaching Dept, Morgan State University
March 31, 2013
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


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