CONTENTS
Notes on Contributors = ⅸ
Editors' Acknowledgements = xii
Preface = xiii
1 The Foundations of Qualitative Research / Dawn Snape ; Liz Spencer = 1
Defining qualitative research = 2
The historical development of qualitative research = 5
Key philosophical and methodological issues in qualitative research = 12
The 'approach' within this book = 18
Key points = 22
Key terms = 22
Further reading = 23
2 The Applications of Qualitative Methods to Social Research / Jane Ritchie = 24
Theoretical and applied research = 24
The functions of qualitative research = 26
The functions of different qualitative methods = 34
Combining qualitative and quantitative methods = 38
Key points = 44
Key terms = 45
Further reading = 46
3 Design Issues / Jane Lewis = 47
Defining the research questions = 48
Building design around research settings and populations = 49
Selecting the time frame for research = 53
Choosing a data collection method = 56
Negotiating research relationships = 62
Resourcing and timetabling qualitative research studies = 71
Key points = 74
Key terms = 75
Further reading = 76
4 Designing and Selecting Samples / Jane Ritchie ; Jane Lewis ; Gillian Elam = 77
Sampling strategies for qualitative research = 77
Study populations = 86
Sample frames = 88
Designing a purposive sample = 96
Implementing the sample Design = 104
Key points = 107
Key terms = 107
Further reading = 108
5 Designing Field work Strategies and Materials / Sue Arthur ; James Nazroo = 109
Structuring data collection = 110
Designing topic guides = 115
Incorporating other research instruments and materials = 127
Preparing for fieldwork and refining fieldwork strategies = 133
Key points = 136
Key terms = 137
Further reading = 137
6 In-depth Interviews / Robin Legard ; Jill Keegan ; Kit Ward = 138
The in-depth interview = 139
The staging of an interview = 144
Asking questions to achieve breadth and depth = 148
Question formulation = 153
Further techniques for achieving depth = 155
Practical considerations = 165
Key points = 168
Key terms = 168
Further reading = 169
7 Focus Groups / Helen Finch ; Jane Lewis = 170
Features and types of focus group = 171
Group processes and the stages of a focus group = 174
Conducting the discussion = 180
Using the group process : some further strategies = 185
Group composition and size = 190
Practicalities in organising the group = 193
Key points = 197
Key terms = 197
Further reading = 198
8 Analysis : Practices, Principles and Processes / Liz Spencer ; Jane Ritchie ; William O'Connor = 199
Traditions and approaches within qualitative analysis = 200
Computer-assisted qualitative methods = 206
The key requirements of analytic tools = 209
The analytic hierarchy = 213
Key points = 217
Key terms = 217
Further reading = 218
9 Carrying Out Qualitative Analysis / Jane Ritchie ; Liz Spencer ; William O'Connor = 219
Data management = 220
Descriptive accounts = 237
Explanatory accounts = 248
Analysing group data = 257
Key points = 261
Key terms = 262
Further reading = 262
10 Generalising from Qualitative Research / Jane Lewis ; Jane Ritchie = 263
Definitions of generalisation = 264
Approaches to generalisation = 266
Reliability and validity = 270
Generalising from qualitative data = 277
Key points = 284
Key terms = 285
Further reading = 286
11 Reporting and Presenting Qualitative Data / Clarissa White ; Kandy Woodfield ; Jane Ritchie = 287
Challenges facing the qualitative reporter = 288
Forms of research outputs = 290
Writing a qualitative research report = 293
Displaying qualitative evidence - some general features and principles = 301
Oral presentations = 315
Key points = 319
Key terms = 320
Further reading = 320
References = 321
Index = 331
