Collecting Qualitative Data Using Digital Methods (Mastering Business Research Methods)

Part of SAGE’s Mastering Business Research Methods Series, conceived and edited by Bill Lee, Mark N. K. Saunders and Vadake K. Narayanan and designed to support researchers by providing in-depth and practical guidance on using a chosen method of data collection or analysis. 

In Collecting Qualitative Data Using Digital Methods, Rebecca Whiting and Katrina Pritchard provide a concise and accessible guide to a digital data collection method, comprised of tracking and trawling that can be used to collect qualitative data in the fields of business, management and organizational research. 

With practical guidance and insight into how to use this approach in your own research, this book provides invaluable support to Business and Management masters students who choose to work with secondary data when completing their dissertations.

Rebecca Whiting is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Organizational Psychology at Birkbeck, University of London where she leads the Department’s Qualitative Research Group. She is interested in a wide range of qualitative methodologies, including the use of digital and visual data, and in the ethics of conducting research that uses such data.  She has published journal articles and book chapters on aspects of qualitative methods, including in The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Business and Management Research Methods and the Oxford University Press volume, Unconventional Methodology in Organization and Management Research. Her research topics include the discursive construction of work identities, work-life boundaries, diversity (particularly age, gender and class and how they are socially constructed) and invisible work.

Katrina Pritchard is a Professor in the School of Management, Swansea University where she is Deputy Dean and the School’s Director of Learning and Teaching.  She has published journal articles and book chapters on aspects of qualitative methods, including in The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Business and Management Research Methods and Symon and Cassell’s (2012) Qualitative Organizational Research: Core methods and current challenges.  Katrina’s methodological interests extend from traditional to creative qualitative methods, including visual and object-based in addition to digital methods.  She researches a range of topics related to issues of identity at work.