Learning in the Field

by Rossman, Gretchen B.; Rallis, Sharon F.

• ISBN13: 9780761903536
• ISBN10: 0761903534
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-04-01
• Publisher: Sage Pubns

Summary

" "What sets this book apart is its skillful integration of both the scientific and artistic dimensions of qualitative research." " --From the foreword by Michael Quinn Patton, "author of" Qualitative Research and Evaluation Methods, Third Edition The popular text that helped readers better understand and practice qualitative research has been completely updated and revised while retaining the features that made the First Edition so useful. New to this edition: Chapter 3 on the ethics and politics of qualitative research Chapter 4 on choosing the locus of interest among the major qualitative research approaches Chapter 10 expanded to provide detailed instructions for organizing, coding, interpreting, and analyzing data Chapters 8 and 11 present examples of the three student characters' data and analysis Concept boxes highlight major themes and issues and summarize important principles End-of-chapter study questions and activities

Table of Contents

Foreward

Preface to the Second Edition

List of Figures and Tables

Qualitative Research as Learning

Defining Qualitative Research

Common Characteristics

Typical Purposes and Overall Approaches

Doing Qualitative Research: Tales of Three Characters

Ways of Using Research

Instrumental Use

Enlightenment Use

Symbolic Use

Empancipatory Use

Principles of Good Practice

Overview of the Book

Activities for Your Community of Practice

Further Reading

The Researcher as Learner

What is Learning?

The Reflexivity of Qualitative Research

Paradigms

Subjectivity and Objectivity

Status Quo Versus Radical Change

Four Paradigms

Perspective in Practice

The Self at Work: Reflexivity

Establishing Perspective

Using the Principles of Good Practice

Activities for Your Community of Practice

Further Reading

The Researcher as Competent and Ethical

Trustworthiness

Standards for Practice

What is the Truth Value of This Work?

How Rigorously Was the Study Conducted?

How Useful is the Study for Other Situations?

Strategies for Ensuring Credibility and Rigor

Our Characters' Strategies

Theories of Ethics

The Ethic of Consequences

The Ethic of Rights and Responsibilities

The Ethic of Social Justice

The Ethic of Care

Ethical Issues

Privacy and Confidentiality

Deception and Consent

Trust and Betrayal

Thinking Through Ethical Dilemmas

Politics

Setting the Research Agenda

Approving the "Right" Methodology

Coping With Micro-politics

Our Characters' Issues

Internal Review Boards

Using the Principles of Good Practice

Further Reading

Major Qualitative Research Genres

Choosing the Locus of Interest: Major Qualitative Research Genres

Critical and Postmodern Assumptions

Ethnographies

Phenomenological Studies

Socio-Communication Studies

Case Studies

Using the Principles of Good Practice

Activities for Your Community of Practice

Further Reading

Planning the Research

Practical Considerations

Do-ability

Want-to-Do-Ability

Should-Do-Ability

What is a Research Proposal?

Conceptual Framework

Use of the Literature

Introduction

The Topic

Statement of the Research Problem or Issue

Purpose

Significance

Limitations

Design and Methodology

Overall Genre and Rationale

Site or Population Selection and Sampling Strategies

Data Gathering Procedures

Data Management and Analysis Procedures

Using the Principles of Good Practice

Activities for Your Community of Practice

Further Reading

Entering the Field

Preparation

Intended Involvement

Degree of Involvement

Portrayal of Iinvolvement

Approach and Negotiations

Time

Introduction and Invitation

Written Permission

Expectations and Relationships

Reciprocity

Organizational Gatekeepers

Using the Principles of Good Practice

Activities for Your Community of Practice

Further Reading

Gathering Data in the Field

Decisions About Gathering Data

Depth or Breadth

Prefigured or Open-ended

Ebb and Flow

Systematic Inquiry

Data About the Research

Data About the Process and Yourself

Generic In-depth Interviewing

Types of Interviews

Social Group Identities

Follow-up Questions

Specialized Forms of In-depth Interviewing

Ethnographic Interviewing

Phenomenological Interviewing

Socio-communications Interviews

Interviewing "Elites" or "Experts"

Focus Group Interviewing

Interviewing Children

Observing People, Actions, and Events

Taking Field Notes

Making Raw Field Notes Usable

Studying Material Culture

Using the Principles of Good Practice

Activities for Your Community of Practice

Further Reading

Our Characters' Data

Anthony's Data

Field Notes 1

Field Notes 2

Interview 1

Interview 2

Marla's Data

Interview 1

Interview 2

Field Notes 1

Field Notes 2

Ruth's Data

Field Notes 1

Field Notes 2

Interview 1

Interview 2

Activities for Your Community of Practice

Issues That Arise in the Field

"How Do I Prepare To Gather Data?"

"How Can I Get Comfortable in the Field?"

"What are the Data?"

"How Do I Turn Sights, Sounds, and Objects Into Data?"

"I'm Bilingual. What Language Do I Use?"

"How Can I Change My Research Plan?"

"What Do I Reflect On?"

"How Do I Leave the Field?"

Using the Principles of Good Practice Using the principles of good practice Using the principles of good practice

Activities for Your Community of Practice

Further Reading

Analyzing and Interpreting Data

Analysis Happens

Analysis is Ongoing

Categorical or Holistic Analysis

Quantifying Qualitative Data

Analysis Related to Qualitative Genre

Generic Analysis

Organizing the Data

Our Characters

Familiarizing Yourself With the Data

Generating Categories and Themes

Coding

Interpretation

Searching for Alternative Understandings

Writing the Report

Writing In-process Analytic Memos

Strategies for Analyzing Interview Data

Analyzing Ethnographic Interview Data

Analyzing Phenomenologic Interview Data

Analyzing Socio-communications Data

Strategies for Analyzing Field Notes From Observations

Strategies for Analyzing Material Culture

Using the Principles of Good Practice

Activities for Your Community of Practice

Further Reading

Our Characters' Analyses

Anthony's Analysis

Analytic Memo: What Participation Means

Ruth's Analysis

On Agency

Marla's Analysis

Memo #1: Collaborative Analysis: The Process and Some Preliminary Thoughts

Memo #2: Taking Action

Using the Principles of Good Practice

Activities for Your Community of Practice

Presenting the Learnings

Presentation

Audience and Purpose

Possible Formats

Voice

Organizing the Report

Chronology

Life History

Thematic

Composite

Critical Events

Portraits

Using the Principles of Good Practice to Generate Useful Knowledge

Activities for Your Community of Practice

References

Epilogue

Name Index

Subject Index

About the Authors

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