Qualitative Research for Education: An Introduction to Theories and Methods

This concise, applied, and very clearly written introduction to qualitative research methods can be used effectively in a semester, or year-long course.

This introductory-level text provides the reader with a background for understanding the uses of qualitative research in education (and other professions) examining its theoretical and historical underpinnings, and providing the “how-to's” of doing qualitative research. This new edition places qualitative research within current debates about research methods and alternative ways of knowing. While the authors approach the subject from a sociological perspective, they also take care to reflect the many changes in conceptualization of qualitative research brought by post-structural and feminist thought.

New to This Edition:

· Rewritten Chapter 5, “Data Analysis,” places more emphasis on the interpretive aspect of research and research writing.

· Expanded coverage of action or practitioner research (Chapter 7) highlights a topic that is of immediate use.

· Added emphasis on technology and qualitative analysis software in qualitative research helps students to use and incorporate technology efficiently. Links to useful research websites have also been integrated throughout.

· Expanded coverage of such topics as formal research designs, work with different cultures, critical race theory, and the debate over quantitative vs. qualitative research.

· New end-of-chapter summaries, questions, and field assignments have been added to make this text easy to use with students.

This concise, applied, and very clearly written introduction to qualitative research methods can be used effectively in a semester, or year-long course. The purpose of this introductory-level text is to provide the reader with a background for understanding the uses of qualitative research in education to examine its theoretical and historical underpinnings, and to provide the “how-to's” of doing qualitative research. This new edition places qualitative research within current debates about research methods and alternative ways of knowing. While the authors approach the subject from a sociological perspective, they also take care to reflect the many changes in conceptualization of qualitative research brought by post-structural and feminist thought.