Qualitative Research And Theory Development

Encouraging readers to take a critical approach to empirical data, the authors provide an account that helps social science researchers to develop new and interesting theories.

The use of case studies to build and test theories in political science and the other social sciences has increased in recent years. Many scholars have argued that the social sciences rely too heavily on quantitative research and formal models and have attempted to develop and refine rigorous methods for using case studies. This text presents a comprehensive analysis of research methods using case studies and examines the place of case studies in social science methodology. It argues that case studies, statistical methods, and formal models are complementary rather than competitive. The book explains how to design case study research that will produce results useful to policymakers and emphasizes the importance of developing policy-relevant theories. It offers three major contributions to case study methodology: an emphasis on the importance of within-case analysis, a detailed discussion of process tracing, and development of the concept of typological theories. Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences will be particularly useful to graduate students and scholars in social science methodology and the philosophy of science, as well as to those designing new research projects, and will contribute greatly to the broader debate about scientific methods.

This unique text shows researchers how to develop theories derived through qualitative inquiry. Johnny Saldaña illustrates how a theory is a research-based statement with an accompanying explicating narrative that contains six properties: concepts, propositional logic, parameters/variation, explanation/causation, generalizability/transferability, and the improvement of social life. The book features hundreds of examples of theories and metatheories from a wide range of disciplines and includes end-of-chapter activities for exercising the skills necessary to develop original theories. Just as Saldaña demystifies coding and qualitative data analysis in his bestselling Sage books, Developing Theory Through Qualitative Inquiry presents an accessible introduction to the principles and methods of theorizing for social insight.

The Second Edition of this best-selling textbook continues to offer immensely practical advice and technical expertise that will aid researchers in analyzing and interpreting their collected data, and ultimately build theory from it. The authors provide a step-by-step guide to the research act. Full of definitions and illustrative examples, the book presents criteria for evaluating a study as well as responses to common questions posed by students of qualitative research.

Qualitative Methods for Family Studies and Human Development serves as a step-by-step, interdisciplinary, qualitative methods text for those working in the areas of family studies, human development, family therapy, and family social work. Providing a systematic outline for carrying out qualitative projects from start to finish, author Kerry J. Daly uniquely combines epistemology, theory, and methodology into a comprehensive package illustrated specifically with examples from family relations and human development research.

The fourth edition of this best-selling text continues to offer immensely practical advice and technical expertise to aid researchers in making sense of their collected data.

The Second Edition of Theoretical Frameworks in Qualitative Research, by Vincent A. Anfara, Jr. and Norma T. Mertz, brings together some of today’s leading qualitative researchers to discuss the frameworks behind their published qualitative studies. They share how they found and chose a theoretical framework, from what discipline the framework was drawn, what the framework posits, and how it influenced their study. Both novice and experienced qualitative researchers are able to learn first-hand from various contributors as they reflect on the process and decisions involved in completing their study. The book also provides background for beginning researchers about the nature of theoretical frameworks and their importance in qualitative research; about differences in perspective about the role of theoretical frameworks; and about how to find and use a theoretical framework.

Lecturers, click here to request an e-inspection copy of this text Qualitative Research Methods is based on the authors′ highly successful multidisciplinary qualitative methods workshops, which have been conducted for over a decade. In this book the authors propose a ′qualitative research cycle′ that leads students through the selection of appropriate methods, the collection of data and the transformation of findings into a finished project. It provides a clear explanation of the nature of qualitative research and its key concepts. Topics covered include: o formulating qualitative research questions o ethical issues o in-depth interviews o focus group discussions o observation o coding o data analysis o writing up qualitative research This text is ideal for any students taking a qualitative methods course or producing a qualitative research project at undergraduate or graduate level. It is illustrated throughout with case studies and field examples from a range of international contexts. The practical techniques are also accompanied by the author′s own research tools including interview guides, real coded data and comprehensive research checklists.