Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods

"What a pleasant surprise to read a book on qualitative research methods that not only does the subject justice but is also readable. . . . This book is for specialists and is suited for all nurses pursuing a course in research methods or who are considering undertaking qualitative research. It represents a good value for money."

--Nursing Times

"The updated, 1990 version contains valuable material on rapid reconnaissance techniques, focus group interviews, and qualitative synthesis. It is well-written, easy to understand, and full of useful guidelines for conducting interviews and group work observations. Qualitative research′s theories are applicable to training professionals, managers, and anyone responsible for making decisions. Special features include an updated bibliography, samples of interview guides, examples of open-ended interviews, and suggested code books for computerized interviews."

--American Society for Training & Development

"The new edition has been completely revised and updated, includes new material on rapid reconnaissance techniques, future applications, focus group interviews and qualitative synthesis, and new chapters on the theoretical foundations of qualitative inquiry; enhancing the quality and credibility of qualitative analysis; and particularly appropriate qualitative applications. . . . Michael Quinn Patton′s style is direct, engaging, and often humorous. . . . A very useful discussion of the different themes of qualitative inquiry and of the different theoretical traditions and orientations which have been associated with the approach. . . . Provides a much-enhanced treatment of qualitative evaluation and research methods compared to that of the first edition. It should be indispensable reading for the serious qualitative evaluator or researcher, will certainly instruct and possibly entertain those with a general interest in social research or evaluation techniques."

--International Journal of Information Management

"Michael Quinn Patton′s discussion of these two major types of empirical inquiry is admirably objective and readable. For those trained in quantitative inquiry but not in qualitative inquiry, this first section may be the most important part of the book. . . .Besides its readable, common-sense discussion of qualitative data collection, Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods has other features which also recommend it. An experienced researcher and evaluator himself, Patton tells detailed, sometimes humorous narratives of investigations he has conducted. This vicarious experience makes the theoretical discussion more understandable and clearly useful for the reader. Even more important, Patton provides a long bibliography--seventeen pages in eight-point type. This extensive bibliography is a good starting place for novices who want to know more about the issues involved in qualitative data collection. . . . Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods is a useful introduction for graduate students, faculty, or program directors who are interested in learning about qualitative data collection. It offers a way in for graduate students and faculty who want to begin qualitative research projects, and it describes flexible, context-sensitive techniques for program evaluation. The survival of the new professional programs in technical communication depends on our ability to establish a scholarly base rooted in composition studies and to assess the strengths and weaknesses of our course offerings. Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods offers help in both areas."

--Journal of Technical Writing and Communication

"The chapters on ′Qualitative interviewing′ and ′Qualitative analysis and interpretation′ (chapters 7 and 8) were particularly clear and concise. Important points were highlighted."

--British Journal of Psychology

"Offers a fresh nonconventional approach to qualitative research, emphasizing the use of a research report as a basis for action."

--NYHEDSBREV

"Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods is written in a readable style for students, researchers, and practitioners, and the text is filled with examples used to clarify concepts. . . . It is comprehensive in covering the essential concepts of qualitative methodology, including problem identification, participant observation, interviewing, document analysis, triangulation, data analysis, and reporting. Additionally, the text reflects a thorough examination of the literature on qualitative inquiry. . . . A useful guide."

--Educational Studies

Once again setting the standard for the field, the second edition of Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods reflects the tremendous explosion of interest in qualitative methods over the past decade. Completely revised and updated, the second edition again emphasizes strategies for generating vivid, useful, and credible qualitative information for decision making. New to this edition are chapters on:

- the theoretical foundations of qualitative inquiry;

- enhancing the quality and credibility of qualitative analysis; and

- particularly appropriate qualitative applications.

New material has also been added on rapid reconnaissance techniques, future applications, focus group interviews, and qualitative synthesis. In addition, Michael Quinn Patton has thoroughly revised the literature reviews and citations.

A most useful and practical resource, Qualitative Evaluation and Research Methods will interest all evaluators and methodologists. Scholars and students in the fields of evaluation studies, education, psychology, sociology, public administration, and management will benefit from the provocative insights offered in this pathbreaking volume.

Michael Quinn Patton is author of more than a dozen books on evaluation including Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods, 4th ed (2015), Blue Marble Evaluation (2020), Principles-Focused Evaluation (2018), Facilitating Evaluation (2018) and Developmental Evaluation (2011). Based in Minnesota, he was on the faculty of the University of Minnesota for 18 years and is a former president of the American Evaluation Association (AEA). Michael is a recipient of the Alva and Gunnar Myrdal Evaluation Practice Award, the Paul F. Lazarsfeld Evaluation Theory Award, and the Research on Evaluation Award, all from AEA He has also received the Lester F. Ward Distinguished Contribution to Applied and Clinical Sociology Award from the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology. In 2021 he received the first Transformative Evaluator Award from EvalYouth. He is an active speaker, trainer, and workshop presenter who has conducted applied research and evaluation on a broad range of issues and has worked with organizations and programs at the international, national, state, provincial, and local levels. Michael has three children―a musician, an engineer, and an evaluator―and four grandchildren. When not evaluating, he enjoys exploring the woods and rivers of Minnesota, where he lives.