Qualitative Research Practice: A Guide for Social Science Students and Researchers

`This is a "how to" book on qualitative methods written by people who do qualitative research for a living.... It is likely to become the standard manual on all graduate and undergraduate courses on qualitative methods′ - Professor Robert Walker, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham

What exactly is qualitative research? What are the processes involved and what can it deliver as a mode of inquiry?

Qualitative research is an exciting blend of scientific investigation and creative discovery. When properly executed, it can bring a unique understanding of people′s lives which in turn can be used to deepen our understanding of society. It as a skilled craft used by practitioners and researchers in the `real world′; this textbook illuminates the possibilities of qualitative research and presents a sequential overview of the process written by those active in the field.

Qualitative Research Practice:

- Leads the student or researcher through the entire process of qualitative research from beginning to end - moving through design, sampling, data collection, analysis and reporting.

- Is written by practicing researchers with extensive experience of conducting qualitative research in the arena of social and public policy - contains numerous case studies.

- Contains plenty of pedagogical material including chapter summaries, explanation of key concepts, reflective points for seminar discussion and further reading in each chapter

- Is structured and applicable for all courses in qualitative research, irrespective of field.

Drawn heavily on courses run by the Qualitative Unit at the National Centre for Social Research, this textbook should be recommended reading for students new to qualitative research across the social sciences.

Jane Ritchie is a psychologist and worked exclusively in social policy research throughout her career. She founded the Qualitative Research Unit at NatCen Social Research in 1985 and was the Unit′s Director until 1998. She was one of the originators of the qualitative analytic tool, Framework, and teaches and writes about qualitative methods.

Jane Lewis was Director of the Qualitative Research Unit at NatCen Social Research from 1998-2007, and then Director of Research and Evaluation at the National Children′s Bureau. Her career has since focused on research utilisation and implementation in child and family services. She ran the national support agency for evidence-informed practice Research in Practice and is now centrally involved in the development of UK implementation science and practice as a Director of the Colebrooke Centre for Evidence and Implementation.