![]() Maybe it seems churlish to look for evidence you just take it “on faith” that you are loved. Or you might know because you’ve looked for evidence that she does, like taking care of you when you are sick or reading to you in bed or working two jobs so you can have the things you need to do OK in life. Or because that is what “mothers” do by tradition. You might know your mother loves you because she’s told you she does. Think about how you know things about the world. We use the term to refer to “empirical research,” which is actually a historically specific approach to understanding the world around us. When we use the word research, what exactly do we mean by that? This is one of those words that everyone thinks they understand, but it is worth beginning this textbook with a short explanation. These short accounts by practitioners should help inspire students. Woven throughout the text are short textual asides (in colored textboxes) by professional (academic) qualitative researchers in various disciplines. ![]() I have tried to write in a practical and forthright manner, with many lively examples and references to good and intellectually creative qualitative research. I hope readers find this to be a little different. The primary goal has been to create a useful, accessible, engaging textbook for use across many disciplines. Along the way, it includes examples from many different disciplines in the social sciences. It covers aspects of research design and research communication as well as methods employed. In addition to covering techniques of data collection and data analysis, it provides a road map of how to get started and how to keep going and where to go for advanced instruction. This is a true “comprehensive” book for the beginning student. This textbook will have sections dedicated to the process as well as the techniques of qualitative research. But both of these approaches are necessary for the beginner student. Textbooks are typically arranged in one of two ways: (1) by technique (each chapter covers one method used in qualitative research) or (2) by process (chapters advance from research design through publication). In contrast, this open-access textbook is designed as a (free) true introduction to the subject, with helpful, practical pointers on how to conduct research and how to access more advanced instruction. Although there are some excellent textbooks out there, they are often costly, and none of them, to my mind, properly introduces qualitative research methods to the beginning student (whether undergraduate or graduate student). ![]() I have been teaching qualitative research methods to both undergraduates and graduate students for many years. “Science is in danger, and for that reason it is becoming dangerous” -Pierre Bourdieu, Science of Science and Reflexivity Why an Open Access Textbook on Qualitative Research Methods?
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