Heuristic Research: Design, Methodology, and Applications

"A gem . . . . It is most definitely a work of major significance both historically and methodologically . . . . You′ve got a classic on your hands. As for me and some of my colleagues . . . you will have our personal and classroom orders the moment the book comes out."

--Mike Arons, West Georgia College

"The book is well-organized and the content is comprehensive. The writing is clear and well-referenced. The examples are excellent . . . . I teach a course annually on Research Methods and Theory. I would recommend the book to those students and . . . would also promote the book among evaluators. Dr. Moustakas is an eminent scholar with a unique and important perspective. I believe this book could become a classic like Polanyi′s book."

--Michael Quinn Patton, University of Minnesota

"The organization and content of this book is very good. The writing is excellent. Clarity is a strong point . . . . [This] book is . . . an important contribution to the growing interest and activity in phenomenological approaches to research . . . . For advanced undergraduate . . . and graduate courses and . . . as a resource book [for] professionals."

--Willard B. Frick, Albion College

"A powerful and much-awaited contribution to human science methodology by clearly presenting the conceptual foundations and core processes of the heuristic model. Heuristic Research is an intense and comprehensive book for researchers, mental health practitioners, and those who value self-discovery in the fullness of the moment . . . . He gracefully weaves well-chosen examples from research studies and relevant literature into his discussions, allowing us easy access to his ideas."

--Association of Humanistic Psychology

"The manuscript is well-conceived and thoughtfully organized. The timely use of concrete examples is a strong feature of the book in a field that is highly philosophical and theoretical . . . . I wholeheartedly endorse this book."

--Kevin MacNeil, Family Life Institute, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada

"The contents of the book . . . are laid out with a clarity rarely seen in the humanistic psychology literature."

--Choice

"A strikingly original contribution to qualitative methodology by Clark Moustakas. It is distinguishable above all by the intensely personal character of the research."

--The Humanistic Psychologist

"This book gives a clear presentation of heuristic methodology as a systematic form of qualitative research. It includes an explanation of how heuristic inquiry works in practice and the actual process of conducting a human science investigation is described in detail."

--Bulletin de Methodologie Sociologique

"By calling attention to the meanings and uses of tacit knowing and intuition as we seek to formulate and address questions in psychology, Moustakas helps us recognize the importance of cultivating heuristic sources and the formidable challenge of doing so. His book also serves to remind us of the preconceptions of a field that largely acts as if such sources can be ignored or given very short shrift indeed."

--Contemporary Psychology

A first of its kind, Heuristic Research presents heuristic methodology as an organized and systematic form for investigating human experience. Moustakas clearly illustrates how heuristic concepts and processes form both the components of the research design and the basis for a methodology. The mechanics of how heuristic inquiry works in practice are discussed and, using a step-by-step approach, the actual process of conducting a human science investigation is thoroughly outlined. Moustakas carefully describes various applications of heuristic research, the phases of heuristic research, and how to analyze collected data. In addition, practical examples are provided to guide the reader through the research process. Clearly written and well organized, Heuristic Research is certain to interest researchers and students in evaluation, psychology, social psychology, gender studies, gerontology, family studies, and sociology.