The essential guide to understanding, designing, conducting, and presenting a qualitative research study
Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation, 5th Edition is filled with practical advice and proven guidance for designing and implementing qualitative research studies, and for communicating findings clearly and effectively. Readers will develop a strong foundation in qualitative research theory and application, including an understanding of data sources, data analysis tools, and the types of qualitative research. This revised Fifth Edition offers an expanded interdisciplinary focus, covering qualitative research in the medical and health professions, the social sciences, education, and the humanities. It also covers new tools and technologies—including discussion of AI in qualitative research—that facilitate the process of conducting, analyzing, and presenting research. Written in reader-friendly terms, Qualitative Research is accessible to both novice and experienced researchers.
- Discover the theories, techniques, and analysis methods that make for rigorous qualitative studies
- Consider issues related to online data collection, interpretation of results, and qualitative research ethics
- Learn to develop a strong theoretical framework to guide qualitative studies
- Discover how qualitative research is used in many fields, including healthcare
Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation is an indispensable reference for students and researchers looking to grow their knowledge of qualitative research methodologies across disciplines.
Table of Content
Preface vii
Foreword xvii
Paul Haidet, MD, MPH
About the Authors xxiii
Acknowledgments xxvii
Part One: The Design of Qualitative Research 1
1 What Is Qualitative Research? 5
2 Six Common Qualitative Research Designs 27
3 Expanding the Qualitative Paradigm: Critical Research, and Action and Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) 53
4 Qualitative Research in Mixed Methods and Arts-Based Approaches 75
5 Designing Your Study and Selecting a Sample 97
Part Two: Collecting Qualitative Data 133
6 Conducting Effective Interviews 135
7 Being a Careful Observer 169
8 Mining Data from Documents and Artifacts 197
Part Three: Analyzing and Reporting Qualitative Data 227
9 Qualitative Data Analysis 231
10 Validity, Reliability, and Ethics 279
11 Writing Up Qualitative Research 315
Appendix: The Methodology Section of a Qualitative Research Study 353
Sharan B. Merriam
References 361
Name Index 395
Subject Index 405
About the author
Dr. Elizabeth J. Tisdell is Distinguished Professor Emerita of Lifelong Learning and Adult Education at Penn State University—Harrisburg.
Dr. Sharan B. Merriam is a retired professor of adult education at the University of Georgia. She is the author, coauthor, or editor of numerous books, including Learning in Adulthood.
Dr. Heather L. Stuckey-Peyrot is co-director of the Qualitative and Mixed-Method Core at the Penn State College of Medicine.