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Approaching qualitative research for the first time and unsure how to get started? This book captures what you need to know to jump into effective qualitative or mixed methods research.
The book gets you up to speed on the specifics of qualitative research, while showing how it complements quantitative research and how to draw on and hone your existing skills to conduct impactful research. It covers the whole research process, from explaining what theories are for and planning your research design, through gathering and working with your data, to developing good practice in research reporting and dissemination.
The book also:
Showcases the value of qualitative research, helping you understand its relevance, credibility and validity.
Grapples with how to decolonise your approach, do research in an ethical and inclusive way, and debias your thinking.
Challenges you to rethink how you conduct research and choose the most appropriate methods for your project.
Giving you a fuller understanding of methods and methodologies to benefit your work regardless of the approach you choose, this book encourages you to discover the joy of qualitative research.
List of contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Ways of knowing
Chapter 3: Thinking with theory
Chapter 4: Designing qualitative research
Chapter 5: Contextualising qualitative research
Chapter 6: Gathering qualitative data: Mainstream methods
Chapter 7: Gathering qualitative data: Alternative methods
Chapter 8: Qualitative data analysis: Considerations
Chapter 9: Types of qualitative analysis
Chapter 10: Reporting on qualitative research
Chapter 11: Presenting and disseminating research
Chapter 12: Conclusion
About the author
Helen Kara is a leading independent researcher, author, teacher and speaker specialising in research methods, particularly creative methods, and research ethics. With over twenty years’ experience as an independent researcher Helen now teaches doctoral students and staff at higher education institutions worldwide. She is a prolific academic author with over 25 titles; notably Creative Research Methods: A Practical Guide and Research and Evaluation for Busy Students and Practitioners, both in their second editions. Besides her regular blogs and videos, she also writes comics and fiction. Helen is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences. In 2021, at the age of 56, she was diagnosed autistic. Her neurodiversity explains her lifelong fascination with, and ability to focus on, words, language and writing.
Summary
This book equips any quantitative researcher, at any level, who finds they need to use qualitative methods, with the necessary theoretical and practical skills they need to leverage their quantitative background into successful qualitative research.
Report
A clear and comprehensive book explaining the mysteries of qualitative research for those trained in a different paradigm. A must-read for the quantitative researcher who undertakes mixed-method research or occasionally assesses qualitative proposals or papers or who simply seeks to broaden their research horizons. Trisha Greenhalgh 20211209
