Doing Qualitative Research
- David Silverman - Visiting Professor at the University of Technology, Sydney and King’s College, London, Emeritus Professor at Goldsmiths’ College and Adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Technology
Packed with tips for success from author David Silverman and dynamic digital resources, this book secures its place as the "take this everywhere" textbook that supports readers both in the classroom and in the field, providing access via tablet/phone/laptop for easy access to:
- A ready-made bibliography of qualitative research contained in SAGE journal articles curated by the author, to enrich reading and offer top research articles to cite
- Definitions to explain key concepts and methods to deepen understanding of what is discussed in the text
- David's quick, practical video tips and instructional guidance for when students are in the field (or preparing to go into it). David steps in as an instant supervisor to give encouragement and avoid common pitfalls
- An abundance of online resources and web links chosen by the author offering expert guidance on how to do research and do it better. These include research websites and resources as well as insider guides from trusted experts, links to organizations/software, and online text/articles
- Datasets providing readers with research data on which to practice organizing, analyzing, and drawing conclusions
- "Cheat sheets" and reflective trackers readers can use to monitor their progress and plan and manage projects
| Why Do Researchers Use Qualitative Methods? |
| Are Qualitative Methods Always Appropriate? |
| Should You Use Qualitative Methods? |
| Moira’s Research Diary |
| Sally’s Research Diary |
| Simon’s Research Diary |
| The Standards of Ethical Research |
| Why Ethics Matter for Your Research |
| Ethical Guidelines in Practice |
| Complex Ethical Issues |
| Research Governance |
| Managing Unfolding Ethical Demands |
| Originality |
| Being a Professional |
| Independent Critical Thought |
| Interviews |
| Ethnographies |
| Texts |
| The Internet |
| Audio Data |
| Visual Data |
| Mixed Methods |
| How Theoretical Models Shape Research |
| The Different Languages of Qualitative Research |
| Theories, Models and Hypotheses |
| Examples |
| Challenges |
| Solutions |
| Some Cautions |
| Qualitative or Quantitative? |
| Your Research Strategy |
| Choosing a Methodology: a Case Study |
| Naturally Occurring Data? |
| Mixed Methods? |
| Aim for Crystal Clarity |
| Plan Before You Write |
| Be Persuasive |
| Be Practical |
| Make Broader Links |
| A Caution: Misunderstanding Qualitative Research? |
| Supervision Horror Stories |
| Student and Supervisor Expectations |
| The Early Stages |
| The Later Stages |
| Standards of Good Practice |
| Writing |
| Speaking |
| The Art of Presenting Research |
| Feedback from the People You Study |
| What is a case study? |
| The Quantitative Model of Generalization |
| The Rationale of Case Study Design |
| Case study Research in Practice |
| Collecting Interview Data |
| Collecting Focus Group Data |
| Collecting Ethnographic Data |
| Collecting Internet Data |
| Kick-Starting Data Analysis |
| A Case Study |
| Interviews |
| Fieldnotes |
| Transcripts |
| Visual Data |
| A note on learning to use QDA software |
| What QDA software can do for you |
| Advantages of QDA software |
| Text analytics |
| Validity |
| Reliability |
| Two Guides for Evaluating Research |
| Four Quality Criteria |
| Applying Quality Criteria |
| Four Quality Issues Revisited |
| Keep It Simple |
| Do Not Assume That We Are Only Concerned with Subjective Experience |
| Take Advantage of Using Qualitative Data |
| Avoid Drowning in Data |
| Avoid Journalism |
| The Policy-Making Audience |
| The Practitioner Audience |
| The Lay Audience |
| The Title |
| The Abstract |
| Keywords |
| The Table of Contents |
| Recording Your Reading |
| Writing your Literature Review |
| Practical Questions |
| Principles |
| Do You Need a Literature Review Chapter? |
| What Should the Methodology Chapter Contain? |
| A Natural History Chapter? |
| The Macrostructure |
| The Microstructure |
| Tightening Up |
| Chapter 25: The Concluding Chapter |
| The Concluding Chapter as Mutual Stimulation |
| What Exactly Should Your Concluding Chapter Contain? |
| Confessions and Trumpets |
| Theorizing as Thinking Through Data |
| Writing for Audiences |
| Why Your Concluding Chapter can be Fun |
| Viva Horror Stories |
| Preparing for Your Oral |
| Doing the Oral |
| Outcomes |
| Revising Your Thesis after the Oral |
| A Case Study |
| The Backstage Politics of Publishing |
| What Journals are Looking For |
| Reviewers’ Comments |
| How to Write a Short Journal Article |
Supplements
Whether you are a scared neophyte research student or a more experienced qualitative researcher this is an excellent and invaluable and most importantly accessible text that will open the lid of a treasure box of resources. You need this book.
In principle it is impossible to write a method book that will be valid forever. In practice, David Silverman did just that. Adjustments in new editions only fine-tune the text that contains everything that a qualitative researcher needs to know.
This is an excellent textbook that gives students very practical advice of how to conduct qualitative analysis in a thoughtful way. Silverman's vast experience within qualitative methods gives the text a clarity and overview that one can only admire.
An essential guide for anyone new to or brushing up on qualitative methodology. This clear, student-centered guide offers first person insights and true-to-life stories that prepare readers for all of the surprises that await researchers in the field. From the ins and outs of designing a study to writing up and publishing analysis (and much more), this book is an accessible, soup-to-nuts account of a complex set of methods we call qualitative research.
David Silverman has updated this now classic text on qualitative research methods. The resulting 5th edition has further simplified the format and improved the accessibliity to students from a wide range of experience and knowledge of qualitative research methods. Over the many years we have used this text on our postgraduate methods courses, students have found it to be comprehensive and useful whatever stage of their degree, and particularly helpful for those students with little prior knowledge of qualitative research. Even for experienced researchers Silverman provides an invaluable handbook for easy reference.
