Johanna Creswell Baez & John W. Creswell 
30 Essential Skills for the Qualitative Researcher [EPUB ebook] 

The
Second Edition of 
30 Essential Skills for the Qualitative Researcher provides practical, applied information for the novice qualitative researcher, addressing the ‘how’ of conducting qualitative research in one brief guide. Author John W. Creswell and new co-author Johanna Creswell Báez draw on many examples from their own research experiences, sharing them throughout the book. The 30 listed skills are competencies that can help qualitative researchers conduct more thorough, more rigorous, and more efficient qualitative studies.  Innovative chapters on thinking like a qualitative research and engaging with the emotional side of doing qualitative research go beyond the topics of a traditional research methods text and offer crucial support for qualitative practitioners. By starting with a strong foundation of a skills-based approach to qualitative research, readers can continue to develop their skills over the course of a career in research. 



This revised edition updates skills to follow the research process, using new research from a wide variety of disciplines like social work and sociology as examples. Chapters on research designs now tie back explicitly to the five approaches to qualitative research so readers can better integrate their new skills into these designs. Additional figures and tables help readers better visualize data collection through focus groups and interviews and better organize and implement validity checks. The new edition provides further examples on how to incorporate reflexivity into a study, illuminating a challenging aspect of qualitative research. Information on writing habits now addresses co-authorship and provides more context and variation from the two authors. 

Inhoudsopgave

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Part I: Understanding the Landscape of Qualitative Research

Chapter 1 • Thinking Like a Qualitative Researcher

Why the Skill Is Important

The Research Process

Different Approaches to This Research Process

How Qualitative Researchers Think

The Boat Picture

The Nature of Qualitative Research

Some Misconceptions About Qualitative Research

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 2 • Building on Quantitative Research Knowledge to Implement Qualitative Research

Why the Skill Is Important

Characteristics of Quantitative Research in a Quantitative Journal Article

Characteristics of Qualitative Research in a Qualitative Journal Article

Comparing Qualitative and Quantitative Characteristics on a Continuum

Easy- and Hard-to-See Components

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 3 • Making Your Qualitative Project Rigorous and Conceptually Interesting

Why the Skill Is Important

Decide on Your Research Topic

Be Cautious About Studying Your Own Backyard

Make Your Topic Conceptually Interesting

Include an Interesting Element in Your Title

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 4 • Managing Difficult Emotions That Come Up During Research

Why the Skill Is Important

The Emotional Journey of Qualitative Research

Possible Steps in the Emotional Journey

The Upside of Qualitative Research

The Downside of Qualitative Research

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 5 • Working With Research Advisers and Committees

Why the Skill Is Important

Educating Your Committee

Putting Forward Your Best Material

On Taking Feedback

Research Committee Meetings

Summary

Activity

Further resources

PART II • Considering Preliminary Elements

Chapter 6 • Using Philosophy and Theory in Qualitative Research

Why the Skills Are Important

The Philosophy Behind Qualitative Research

Writing About Philosophy in Your Qualitative Study

Use of Theory in Qualitative Research

Summary

Activities

Further resources

Chapter 7 • Anticipating Ethical Issues

Why the Skill Is Important

Human Research Protections in Your Qualitative Research

Ethical Issues at Different Phases in the Research

Ethical Issues We Have Faced as Qualitative Researchers

Permissions for Borrowed Material Used in Qualitative Research

A Checklist for Ethics

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 8 • Organizing the Literature

Why the Skill Is Important

Challenges in Reviewing the Literature

Options for Placing the Literature in a Qualitative Study

Steps in Conducting a Literature Review

Priority for Reviewing the Literature

How to Design a Literature Map

Additional Ideas About Designing a Literature Map

A Sample Description of a Literature Map

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 9 • Viewing the Structure of a Thesis or Dissertation for a Qualitative Study

Why the Skill Is Important

Topics Typically Included in a Qualitative Proposal or Plan

Structure of a Dissertation or Thesis Qualitative Proposal

A Concept Map of the Structure of a Qualitative Journal Article

Summary

Activity

Further resources

PART III • Introducing a Qualitative Study

Chapter 10 • Writing a Good Qualitative Title and Abstract

Why the Skill Is Important

Good Qualitative Titles

Improving Titles

Definition of an Abstract

A Word About Word Count

Topics of a Good Abstract

Examples of Abstracts

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 11 • Writing a Good Introduction and Opening Sentence for a Study

Why the Skill Is Important

Positioning an Introduction Within a Qualitative Study

Five Key Elements of a Good Introduction

The First Sentence of an Introduction

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 12 • Scripting a Qualitative Purpose Statement and Research Questions

Why the Skills Are Important

Interrelating the Purpose, the Research Questions, and the Methods

Purpose Statements

Research Questions

The Central Question

Examples of Improving the Central Question

The Central Phenomenon

Summary

Activity

Further resources

PART IV • Collecting Qualitative Data

Chapter 13 • Understanding the Process of Qualitative Data Collection

Why the Skill Is Important

The Parts of Qualitative Data Collection

A Checklist for Qualitative Data Collection

Summary

Activities

Further resources

Chapter 14 • Conducting a Good Observation

Why the Skill Is Important

Observation as a Developed Skill

The Nature of Observing

Steps in the Process of Observing

Additional Helpful Guidelines for Observing

Challenges in Observing

Observation Checklist

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 15 • Designing and Administering an Interview Protocol

Why the Skill Is Important

Types of Interviews

Steps in Conducting a Qualitative Interview

Parts of an Interview Protocol

A Sample Interview Protocol

Additional Interviewing Ideas

An Interview Checklist

Challenges in Conducting Interviews

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 16 • Collecting Data With Marginalized Populations

Why the Skills Are Important

Marginalized Groups

Concerns in Collecting Data From Marginalized Groups

Addressing Potential Concerns

Summary

Activities

Further resources

Chapter 17 • Being Culturally Aware in Global Qualitative Research

Why the Skills Are Important

Key Concepts in Conducting Global Qualitative Research

Cultural Competency

Building Country-Level Expertise

Global Research Policies

Methodological Orientation and Data Collection Methods

Qualitative Study Designs and Procedures

Recommendations for the Global Qualitative Researcher

Summary

Activities

Further resources

PART V • Analyzing and Validating Data

Chapter 18 • Coding Text Data

Why the Skill Is Important

The Overall Process of Qualitative Data Analysis

From the Raw Data to Codes

From the Raw Data to Themes

The Nature of Coding

Working Backward From a Theme Passage to Understand Coding

The Process of Coding

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 19 • Coding Images and Pictures

Why the Skill Is Important

Types of Qualitative Image Data

Potential Concerns When Using Images

Analyzing Images

Summary

Activities

Further resources

Chapter 20 • Developing Theme Passages

Why the Skill Is Important

Four Levels of Evidence in Qualitative Data Analysis

Elements to Write Into Themes

A Table That Organizes Themes, Codes, and Quotations

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 21 • Using a Computer Software Program for Data Analysis

Why the Skill Is Important

Using QDA Software in the Data Analysis and Report Writing Phases

Should You Use QDA Software?

Major Software Programs Available

How Do You Choose a QDA Program?

What Are the Steps in Using QDA Software?

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 22 • Implementing Validity Checks

Why the Skill Is Important

What Is Validity in Qualitative Research?

Types of Validity in Qualitative Research

What Validity Strategies Should You Use?

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 23 • Conducting Intercoder Agreement

Why the Skill Is Important

What Is Intercoder Agreement?

Procedures for Conducting Intercoder Agreement

Examples of Intercoder Agreement From Informal to More Systematic Procedures

Summary

Activity

Further resources

PART VI • Writing and Publishing Qualitative Research

Chapter 24 • Writing in a Scholarly Way

Why the Skill Is Important

Developing as Writers

Writing to Think About Your Topic

Developing the Habit of Writing

Staging Your Thoughts

Using Principles of Good Writing

Other Strategies for Good Writing

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 25 • Writing in a Qualitative Way

Why the Skill Is Important

Writing Using Thick Description

Writing Coherently

Writing Using Similes

Writing Using Quotations

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 26 • Writing Reflexively

Why the Skill Is Important

What Is Reflexivity?

Reflexivity for the Researcher

Reflexivity for the Participants

Reflexivity for the Readers

How to Facilitate Reflexive Writing

Where Do You Place Your Personal Reflexive Statements in a Study?

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 27 • Writing a Good “Conclusion” Section

Why the Skill Is Important

How Do You Conclude a Qualitative Study?

Perspectives on Elements of a “Conclusion” Section

Two Approaches to Concluding a Qualitative Study

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 28 • Publishing a Qualitative Journal Article

Why the Skill Is Important

Publishing During an Academic Career

Studying a Journal Before Submission

Summary

Activity

Further resources

PART VII • Evaluating a Study and Using Qualitative Designs

Chapter 29 • Selecting Quality Criteria for a Qualitative Study

Why the Skill Is Important

Are Standards Important in Qualitative Research?

Some Perspectives on the Standards Question

What Standards Should You Use?

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Chapter 30 • Selecting a Qualitative Design

Why the Skill Is Important

Moving From Generic to Types of Qualitative Designs

The Choice of Five Designs to Emphasize

How Do You Choose What Design Is Appropriate for Your Project?

An Example, “Turning the Story”

Summary

Activity

Further resources

Glossary

References

Over de auteur

John W. Creswell, Ph D, is a Professor of Family Medicine and Senior Research Scientist of the Michigan Mixed Methods Program. He has authored numerous articles and 34 books on mixed methods research, qualitative research, and research design. While at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, he held the Clifton Endowed Professor Chair, served as Director of the Mixed Methods Research Office, co-founded SAGE’s Journal of Mixed Methods Research, and was an Adjunct Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan and a consultant to the Veterans Administration Health Services Research Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was a Senior Fulbright Scholar to South Africa in 2008 and to Thailand in 2012. In 2011, he co-led a National Institutes of Health working group on the “best practices of mixed methods research in the health sciences, ” served as a Visiting Professor at Harvard’s School of Public Health and received an honorary doctorate from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. In 2014, he was the founding President of the Mixed Methods International Research Association. In 2015, he joined the staff of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan to Co-Direct the Michigan Mixed Methods Program. In 2017, he coauthored the American Psychological Association “standards” on qualitative and mixed methods research. The fourth edition of this book on Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design won the 2018 Mc Guffey Longevity Award from the U.S. Textbook & Academic Authors Association. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he gave virtual keynote presentations to many countries from his office in Osaka, Japan. Updates on his work can be found on his website at johnwcreswell.com.