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Foundations of Qualitative Research
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Foundations of Qualitative Research
Interpretive and Critical Approaches



February 2007 | 392 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
"Willis catches the student up on relevant aspects of philosophy, empiricism, history, and prevailing political influences. This building of chronology is so valuable for students in understanding the origins of specific schools of thought in relations to a paradigm."

Heather T. Zeng, NACADA



Foundations of Qualitative Research introduces key theoretical and epistemological concepts replete with historical and current real-world examples. Author Jerry W. Willis provides an invaluable resource to guide the critical and qualitative inquiry process written in an accessible and non-intimidating style that brings these otherwise difficult concepts to life.

Key Features:  
  • Covers the conceptual foundations of interpretive, critical, and post-positivist paradigms: A thorough background of theory and social inquiry is given by looking at the development of each paradigm throughout history.
  • Provides real-world examples: Cases illustrate different approaches to the same research problem so that students can better understand the contrasting features of these paradigms.
  • Introduces seven qualitative research frameworks: In-depth coverage is provided on Altheide and Johnson's Analytic Realism; Denzin and Lincoln's Interpretive Perspective; Eisner's Connoisseurship Model of Inquiry; Semiotics; the Phenomenological Psychological Model; Poststructuralism and Postmodernism; and Symbolic Interactionism.
  • Offers general guidelines for qualitative research: Conceptually covers the best practices, approaches to data analysis, and interpretation of qualitative research.
  • Examines emergent methods in qualitative research: New research areas such as PAR, emancipatory research, and participatory design research are included, as well as exemplary journal articles to further illustrate how theory links to research practice.

Intended Audience:  
This text is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate students taking their first or second qualitative research methods course in the fields of Education, Psychology, and the Health and Social Sciences. It is also an excellent theory companion supplement to the more applied qualitative methods text.

 
Chapter 1: World Views, Paradigms, and the Practice of Social Science Research
Case 1. Quantitative Research

 
Case 2. Qualitative Research

 
Thinking about the Foundations and Practice of Research

 
What This Book Is and Is Not About.

 
What Warrants Our Attention?

 
The Traditional Canon

 
Alternative Paradigms

 
New Techniques or New Paradigms?

 
 
Chapter 2: History and Context of Paradigm Development
Positivism: A Response to Metaphysical and Magical Explanations

 
Critical Theory: A Response to Inequities in Society

 
Interpretivism: A Response to the Excesses of “Scientific” Social Science

 
The Special Cases of Postmodernism and Feminism

 
 
Chapter 3: Foundational Issues: Postpositivist and Critical Perspectives
Social Science Research: The View from the Postpositivist Paradigm

 
Social Science Research: The View from the Critical Theory Paradigm

 
 
Chapter 4: History and Foundations of Interpretivist Research
(1) Nature of Reality.

 
(2) Purpose of Research.

 
(3) Acceptable Methodology/Data.

 
(4) The Meaning of Data

 
(5) Relationship of Research to Practice.

 
The Implications of an Interpretivist Approach

 
What Sorts of Research are Worthwhile?

 
Examples of Interpretive Research

 
 
Chapter 5: Frameworks for Qualitative Research
Postpositivist Research

 
“Moments” of Qualitative Research

 
Some General Frameworks for Qualitative Research

 
 
Chapter 6: General Guidelines for Qualitative Research
Guidelines for Qualitative Research

 
Situated or Contextual Understanding, Not Truth, is the Purpose of Research

 
Accept Multiple Sources of Influence

 
Take A Foundational Rather Than Technique Perspective

 
Practice Recursive (Iterative ) and Emergent Data Collection and Analysis

 
Use Multiple Sources of Data

 
Think of Research as a Reflective Process

 
The Researcher is the Primary Tool for Data Collection and Analysis

 
An Emphasis on Participatory versus Nonparticipatory Research.

 
Adopt an Open Approach

 
Deal With Bias Directly

 
Select Natural Contexts for Research

 
Research Should be Holistic, Not Atomistic

 
Research Involves More Than Induction and Deduction: Analogical Reasoning, Abduction, and Family Resemblances

 
Alternatives to Postpositivist Criteria for Believability: Validity and Reliability

 
Alternative Approaches to Validity and Reliability: Triangulation and More

 
Conclusions? Aren’t They Generalizations?

 
 
Chapter 7: Methods of Qualitative Research
Case 1: Action Research on a Pediatric Surgical Ward

 
Established Qualitative Research Methods

 
Ethnography

 
Case Studies: Another Form of Qualitative Observation

 
Interview Research

 
Historigraphy

 
Historiography: The Research Methods of History Innovative Methods

 
Participatory Qualitative Research

 
Emancipatory Research

 
Critical Emancipatory Action Research

 
 
Chapter 8: Approaches to Data Analysis and Intepretation
The Purpose of Research

 
General Theory

 
Objective Description

 
Hermeneutic (Verstehen) Understanding

 
Story telling/Narrative

 
Data Analysis Families

 
Eyeballing the Data

 
Connoisseurship: A Global Perspective

 
Hermeneutics as a Data Analysis Method

 
Grounded Theory

 
Analytic Induction

 
A Final Topic: The Ethics of Research

 
 
Chapter 9: 21st Century Social Science: Peering into the Future
Will the Cacophony Continue?

 
Why Can’t Social Science Converge on The Answer?

 
Competition

 
Linearity

 
Dialog as an Alternative to Competition

 
Three Approaches to Knowing in Greek Thought

 
Plato

 
Aristotle

 
The Humanities

 
Choices 20th Century Social Science Made

 
Suppose We Chose Badly

 
Two Theories That May Help Us Build 21st Century Social Science

 
Poetic Logic

 
Chaos and Complexity Theory: Another Route to a Nonlinea Social Science

 

"Willis catches the student up on relevant aspects of philosophy, empiricism, history, and prevailing political influences.  This building of chronology is so valuable for students in understanding the origins of specific schools of thought in relations to a paradigm."

Heather T. Zeng, NACADA

Heather T. Zeng
Park University
National ACademic ADvising Association

One cannot underestimate the importance of this book. Willis deals with topics and concepts that are normally relegated to a paragraph in other methodology books: interpretivism, hermeneutics and phenomenology. Please note I will be recommending it for COM4809 and not COM4801 as indicated below.

Professor Beschara Karam
Department of Communicatin Science, University of South Africa
February 22, 2016

A fantastic book for those who are considering to engage in qualitative research. It covers all the vital parts that are included in qualitative inquiry, such as paradigms and methodology to interpretation and meaning. A must for post-grad students

Ms Irena Loveikaite
Department of Applied Arts, Waterford Institute of Technology
April 14, 2016

The book is comprehensively written. It can be very useful for masters and doctoral students. The paradigms are well presented which can assist in clearing a lot of confusion which some students have regarding paradigm,

Professor Azwihangwisi Helen Mavhandu-Mudzusi
Health Studies, University of South Africa
February 26, 2016

This is a useful book that is recommended for PG level.

Mrs Joan Howarth
School of Health (Kedleston Cps), Derby University
April 21, 2015

A 'must read' for Education and social science students commencing research at UG or PG level. Expertly written, appropriate detail, thought provoking

Mr Andrew Holmes
Centre for Educational Studies, Hull University
May 20, 2014

excellent for health and social care students

Miss Jude Radford
Cardiff School of Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University
February 26, 2014

A very useful text on the principles underpinning qualitative research and will be very useful for those wanting to explore this approach in some depth

Dr Nikki Petty
Health , Brighton University
November 27, 2012

A great text for students who want to know more about qualitative methods. Parts of it may also be interesting as part of an introduction module.

Dr Sarah Spencer
Dept of Human Communication Sciences, Sheffield University
December 19, 2011

This text had a unique take on exploring qualitative research - finally an entire, well-researched book that had interpretivist (and of course critical) understanding at its heart. I currently work hermeneutically and this book, even at this late stage of my current project has made such a difference.

I particularly like the key articles it uses to exemplify its points - a useful way to get 3rd year undergraduates and PG Dip students seeing direct connections between the methodology and the actual research carried out. I'm already recommending it as in a single book they can easily and flexibly cover interpretive approaches, which helps to add balance to the range of methodologies they are exposed to.

Mr Russell Delderfield
Please select your department, Bradford University
November 23, 2011
Key features
  • Covers the conceptual foundations of interpretive, critical, and post-positivist paradigms of qualitative research;
  • Provides substantial historical background of theory and social inquiry by positioning the development of each paradigm as a reaction to problems throughout history;
  • Uses cases (fictional and real-world) to illustrate different approaches to the same research problem or question so that students can better understand the contrasting features of these approaches/paradigms;
  • Introduces seven qualitative research frameworks: Altheide and Johnson's Analytic Realism; Denzin and Lincoln's Interpretive Perspective; Eisner's Connoisseurship Model of Inquiry; Semiotics; the Phenomenological Psychological Model; Poststructuralism and Postmodernism; and Symbolic Interactionism;
  • Summarizes Denzin and Lincoln's "moments" of qualitative research to provide a historical perspective on the development of qualitative methods;
  • Covers conceptually the best practices, and approaches to data analysis and interpretation of qualitative research;
  • Introduces emergent methods in qualitative research, such as PAR, emancipatory research, and participatory design research.

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