Providing practical guidance on carrying out qualitative research in psychology, using methods singly or in combination, this textbook supports students from the beginning of their research experience at undergraduate level through to postgraduate research and beyond. The test introduces four widely used qualitative approaches, grounded theory, interpretative phenomenological analysis, discourse analysis and narrative analysis - and then considers ways of combining the approaches. Each chapter focuses on practical aspects of pluralistic study design and application, including participant recruitment, ethics, data interpretation and writing up. The book reflects the latest developments in qualitative research and includes several features designed to illustrate the applications of these, including: Clear chapter introductions and summaries Descriptive case studies and group projects Reflections on practice Problem-based questions Research examples The contributors bring personal insight into qualitative research practice, covering key areas of psychology, including: health psychology, social psychology, criminal psychology, gender studies, psychotherapy and counselling psychology and organizational psychology. "This book provides an introduction to four widely used qualitative research methods, followed by a detailed discussion of a pluralistic approach to qualitative research, makes excellent use of questions both in order to help the reader gain clarity as well as to encourage reflexivity." The Psychologist, May 2012

This book introduces the single use of four widely-used qualitative approaches and then introduces ways and applications of using the approaches in combination. Personal insight into qualitative research practice from each of the contributors covers health psychology, social psychology, criminal psychology, gender studies psychotherapy, counselling psychology and organizational psychology.

This second edition textbook provides invaluable guidance on carrying out qualitative research in psychology using methods both individually and in combination. Suitable for researchers at all stages of their development, the book provides a go-to resource for students who are just starting out, as well as for experienced qualitative researchers planning to carry out research pluralistically. Key features include: •A new chapter on Thematic Analysis •Updated chapters on four other widely used qualitative method – grounded theory, interpretative phenomenological analysis, discourse analysis and narrative analysis •Discussions of the theoretical foundations of qualitative methods employed singly and pluralistically •Consideration of ethical and quality issues pertinent to different methods when used separately and in conjunction •Inclusion of the use of visual and other non-textual data •Problem-based questions •Reflections on practice from experienced researchers The book has been updated throughout to reflect current developments in, and research examples from, the full breadth of the discipline, including from health, social, counselling, and sports and exercise psychology. Studies carried out as part of both academic and professional practice are included, alongside discussion of ways in which researchers from both settings can work together effectively. “This book opens new horizons for innovation, and creates new avenues to explore the complexity of human experience.” —Dr Amy Burton, Senior Lecturer in Qualitative Research Methods, Staffordshire University, UK “Frost invites advanced students to move from broad conceptual understandings towards a nuanced appreciation of the potential of qualitative methods in psychology.” —Neil Cooper, Professor of Learning and Teaching in Psychology, University of East Anglia, UK “With a crystal clear writing style, Frost enriches our understanding of the practice and experience of doing pluralistic qualitative research – an invaluable contribution.” —John McCarthy, Head of School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Ireland “Frost has delivered a highly relevant, useful, and contemporary book that will be a prized guide on any qualitative journey.” —Brett Smith, Director of Research, Department of Psychology, Durham University, UK “Nollaig Frost has been instrumental to the advancement of a pluralistic perspective in qualitative psychology. This keenly awaited second edition of her book does not disappoint.” —Carla Willig, bestselling author of Introducing Qualitative Research in Psychology Nollaig Frost is Adjunct Professor at the School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Ireland; Visiting Lecturer at City, University of London, UK; and Visiting Researcher at Middlesex University, UK. She teaches and supervises qualitative research to students at all levels and has led the Pluralism in Qualitative Research (PQR) project since its inception in 2006.

This lively, practical text presents a fresh and comprehensive approach to doing qualitative research. The book offers a unique balance of theory and clear-cut choices for customizing every phase of a qualitative study. A scholarly mix of classic and contemporary studies from multiple disciplines provides compelling, field-based examples of the full range of qualitative approaches. Readers learn about adaptive ways of designing studies, collecting data, analyzing data, and reporting findings. Key aspects of the researcher's craft are addressed, such as fieldwork options, the five phases of data analysis (with and without using computer-based software), and how to incorporate the researcher's “declarative” and “reflective” selves into a final report. Ideal for graduate-level courses, the text includes:* Discussions of ethnography, grounded theory, phenomenology, feminist research, and other approaches.* Instructions for creating a study bank to get a new study started.* End-of-chapter exercises and a semester-long, field-based project.* Quick study boxes, research vignettes, sample studies, and a glossary.* Previews for sections within chapters, and chapter recaps.* Discussion of the place of qualitative research among other social science methods, including mixed methods research.

Focusing on research designs for projects that collect both qualitative and quantitative data, this practical book discusses strategies for bringing qualitative and quantitative methods together so that their combined strengths accomplish more than is possible with a single method. The approach is broadly interdisciplinary, reflecting the interest in mixed methods research of social scientists from anthropology, communication, criminal justice, education, evaluation, nursing, organizational behavior, psychology, political science, public administration, public health, sociology, social work, and urban studies. In contrast to an "anything goes" approach or a naïve hope that "two methods are better than one," the author argues that projects using mixed methods must pay even more attention to research design than single method approaches. The book’s practical emphasis on mixed methods makes it useful both to active researchers and to students who intend to pursue such a career.

This concise, practical guide provides detailed advice on how to plan and conduct each phase of a consensual qualitative research (CQR) study, from selecting a topic to writing up results. CQR is an ideal method for studying a person's inner experiences or beliefs, permitting insights not usually possible using quantitative methods. The research examples, drawn from psychotherapy research, can easily be adapted to study a wide range of behavioral science topics.

This text offers current thinking in the field. The authors are well-established qualitative researchers and have pulled off a great text for the beginning researcher.

This comprehensive text brings together in one volume both consideration of the core methods available for undertaking qualitative data collection and analysis, and discussion of common challenges faced by all researchers in conducting qualitative research. Qualitative Organizational Research: Core Methods and Common Challenges contains 27 chapters, each written by an expert in the area. The first part of the volume considers common challenges in the design and execution of qualitative research, examining key contemporary debates in each area as well as providing practical advice for those undertaking organizational research. The second part of the volume looks at contemporary uses of core qualitative methods in organizational research, outlining each method and illustrating practical application through empirical examples. Written by internationally renowned experts in qualitative research methods, this text is an accessible and essential resource for students and researchers in the areas of organization studies, business and management research, and organizational psychology. Key features: • Coverage of all the key topics in qualitative research • Chapters written by experts drawing on their personal experiences of using methods • Introductory chapters outlining the context for qualitative research and the philosophies which underpin it Gillian Symon is Reader in Organizational Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London. Catherine Cassell is Professor of Organizational Psychology at Manchester Business School.

An informative real-world guide to studying the "why" of human behavior Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods is a practical, comprehensive guide to the collection and presentation of qualitative data. Unique in the market, this book describes the entire research process — from design through writing — illustrated by examples of real, complete qualitative work that clearly demonstrates how methods are used in actual practice. This updated fourth edition includes all new case studies, with additional coverage of mixed methods, non-sociological settings, funding, and a sample interview guide. The studies profiled are accompanied by observation field notes, and the text includes additional readings for both students and instructors. More than just theory, this guide is designed to give you a real-world practitioner's view of how qualitative research is handled every step of the way. Many different disciplines rely on qualitative research as a method of inquiry, to gain an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the governing forces behind it. Qualitative research asks "why" and "how," and the data is frequently complex and difficult to measure. This book shows you how to effectively handle qualitative work, regardless of where it's being applied. Understand the strengths and limitations of qualitative data Learn how experts work around common methodological issues Compare actual field notes to the qualitative studies they generated Examine the full range of qualitative methods throughout the research process Whether you're studying sociology, psychology, marketing, or any number of other fields, especially in the social and behavioral sciences, human behavior is the central concern of your work. So what drives human behavior? That's what qualitative research helps to explain. Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods gives you the foundation you need to begin seeking answers.

*Shortlisted for the BPS Book Award 2014 in the Textbook Category* *Winner of the 2014 Distinguished Publication Award (DPA) from the Association for Women in Psychology (AWP)* Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners is an accessible, practical textbook. It sidesteps detailed theoretical discussion in favor of providing a comprehensive overview of strategic tips and skills for starting and completing successful qualitative research. Uniquely, the authors provide a "patterns framework" to qualitative data analysis in this book, also known as "thematic analysis." The authors walk students through a basic thematic approach, and compare and contrast this with other approaches. This discussion of commonalities, explaining why and when each method should be used, and in the context of looking at patterns, will provide students with complete confidence for their qualitative research journey. This textbook will be an essential textbook for undergraduates and postgraduates taking a course in qualitative research or using qualitative approaches in a research project.