Qualitative Research in Education : A User's Guide

by Lichtman, Marilyn

• ISBN13: 9781412937344
• ISBN10: 1412937345
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-03-23
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc

Summary

Written in a conversational and engaging style, Qualitative Research in Education: A User's Guide provides those new to the field with a blend of practical and theoretical information. Author Marilyn Lichtman addresses a broad spectrum of recent information about the process of qualitative educational research and brings together in one volume the essential elements of all aspects of the field.

Table of Contents

Preface	x
Acknowledgments	xvii
PART 1: TRADITIONS AND INFLUENCES	1	(80)
Introduction	3	(18)
Some Basic Comparisons Between Quantitative and Qualitative Research	6	(2)
Ten Critical Elements of Qualitative Research	8	(7)
Additional Issues	15	(4)
Summary	19	(1)
Group Activity	19	(1)
Individual Activity	19	(2)
An Overview of the Field	21	(16)
Definitions	22	(2)
What Is Science?	24	(1)
Multidimensional	25	(1)
Traditions, Approaches, and Beyond: An Overview	26	(3)
Qualitative Questions	29	(1)
Conducting a Simple Qualitative Study	30	(2)
Voices of Humans	32	(1)
An Inductive Approach	33	(1)
General Ideas About the Field	34	(1)
Summary	35	(1)
Group Activity	35	(1)
Individual Activity	36	(1)
Insights From the Past	37	(12)
Educational Research Prior to the 1980s	38	(4)
The 1980s to 2000	42	(1)
2000 and Beyond	43	(1)
Speculations for the Future	44	(2)
Summary	46	(1)
Group Activity	46	(1)
Individual Activity	46	(3)
Learning How to Be a Qualitative Researcher	49	(12)
So You Want to Be a Qualitative Researcher	50	(2)
Potential Research Questions	52	(1)
Getting Started	52	(4)
The Ethics of Conducting Qualitative Research	56	(3)
Summary	59	(1)
Group Activity	59	(1)
Individual Activity	59	(2)
Exploring Traditions and Approaches	61	(20)
Traditions, Approaches, and Beyond: The Details	62	(17)
Anthropology and Ethnography: Studying Cultures	62	(3)
Grounded Theory: Placing Theory in Its Context	65	(3)
Our Lived Experiences: Phenomenological Inquiry as a Philosophy and Method of Study	68	(5)
Case Study: A Look at the Particular	73	(4)
Feminist Research Methods and Feminist Theory	77	(1)
Generic Approach to Doing Qualitative Research	78	(1)
Summary	79	(1)
Group Activity	79	(1)
Individual Activity	79	(2)
PART 2: GATHERING, ORGANIZING, AND ANALYZING	81	(76)
Embarking on Qualitative Research	83	(20)
Twenty Questions	84	(2)
My Life as a Graduate Student	86	(15)
Phase 1: Getting Started	87	(1)
Phase 2: Modeling Good Practices	87	(1)
Phase 3: Practicing Interviewing and Debriefing	88	(1)
Phase 4: Conducting Outside Interviews	89	(6)
Phase 5: Doing Preliminary Analyses as a Group	95	(1)
Phase 6: Doing Analyses as an Individual	96	(1)
Phase 7: Preparing Individual Papers	96	(5)
My Perspective on the Graduate School Experience	101	(1)
Summary	101	(1)
Group Activity	101	(1)
Individual Activity	101	(2)
The Role and Function of a Literature Review	103	(12)
What Is a Literature Review?	104	(1)
Importance of a Literature Review	105	(1)
Theory in Qualitative Research	106	(1)
Sources of the Literature for a Review	106	(1)
Steps in Conducting a Literature Review	107	(2)
Examples From the Field	109	(1)
Fictitious Literature Review Example	109	(4)
Practical Suggestions for Keeping Track of Things	113	(1)
Summary	114	(1)
Group Activity	114	(1)
Individual Activity	114	(1)
Learning About Others Through Interviewing	115	(22)
Qualitative Interviewing	116	(11)
The Purpose of Interviewing	117	(1)
General Issues in Interviewing	118	(1)
Details About In-depth Interviewing	119	(3)
Interviewing Techniques	122	(4)
Some Do's and Don'ts of In-depth Interviewing	126	(1)
Summary	127	(1)
Focus Group Interviewing	127	(5)
The Purpose of Focus Group Interviewing	129	(1)
Issues Regarding Focus Groups	130	(1)
Example of a Focus Group Interview	131	(1)
Online Interviewing	132	(2)
The Purpose of Online Interviewing	133	(1)
Issues and Challenges With Online Interviewing	133	(1)
Focus Groups on the Internet	134	(1)
Summary	134	(1)
Group Activity	135	(1)
Individual Activity	135	(2)
Learning About Others Through Observing	137	(20)
Observing in Natural Settings	138	(8)
The Purpose of Observations	139	(1)
Issues Regarding Observations	140	(1)
How to Conduct an Observation	141	(2)
Examples of Observations	143	(3)
Summary	146	(1)
Existing Writing, Your Writing, and Writing You Generate	146	(2)
The Purpose of Written Material	146	(1)
Issues Regarding Written Material	147	(1)
Images	148	(2)
The Purpose of Images	148	(1)
Examples of Images	149	(1)
Issues Regarding Images	150	(1)
Using the Internet in Qualitative Research	150	(5)
Chat Rooms and Discussion Groups	150	(1)
Focus Groups	151	(1)
Online Teaching	151	(3)
Visual Diaries, Blogs, and Vlogs	154	(1)
Available Data and Communication	155	(1)
Summary	155	(1)
Group Activity	155	(1)
Individual Activity	156	(1)
PART 3: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER	157	(52)
Making Meaning From Your Data	159	(18)
The Process	161	(4)
What Is Qualitative Data?	162	(1)
Process and Traditions	163	(1)
What About Transcribing?	164	(1)
When Should You Do Your Analysis?	164	(1)
Coding and Themes or Concepts	164	(1)
Narratives or Stories	165	(1)
How Do You Know When You Are Finished?	165	(1)
Philosophical Stance	165	(1)
The Three C's of Analysis	166	(5)
Getting Started	166	(1)
Preparing and Organizing Your Data	166	(1)
Reviewing and Recording Your Thoughts	167	(1)
Coding, Categorizing, and Identifying Concepts	167	(3)
Additional Ideas	170	(1)
Data Analysis With Computers	171	(3)
New Trends	174	(1)
Summary	175	(1)
Group Activity	175	(1)
Individual Activity	175	(2)
Communicating Your Ideas	177	(12)
First Steps	178	(1)
Guidelines for Writing and Presenting Qualitative Research	179	(5)
Your Audience---What Do They Expect?	179	(1)
What Are You Trying to Say?	180	(1)
The First Person	180	(1)
The Voices of Others	180	(1)
The Use of Metaphors	181	(1)
Structure Is a Good Thing	182	(2)
Alternative Forms of Presentation	184	(1)
Qualitative Writing	184	(2)
Summary	186	(1)
Group Activity	186	(1)
Individual Activity	187	(2)
Judging and Evaluating	189	(12)
Personal Criteria	191	(2)
Researcher's Role: Revealing the Self and Other Connection	191	(1)
Convincing Arguments: What Was Studied and What Was Found	192	(1)
Rich in Detail: How the Study Was Done	192	(1)
Communication: Are You Convinced by the Presentation?	192	(1)
What Do Others Have to Say?	193	(5)
Prior to 1990	194	(1)
1990 and Beyond	194	(4)
Journals and Editorial Board Criteria	198	(1)
Summary	198	(1)
Group Activity	198	(1)
Individual Activity	199	(2)
Self-Reflexivity and Subjectivity	201	(8)
Personal Journey	203	(3)
Role of Self	206	(1)
Reflexivity	206	(1)
Self-Awareness and Growth	207	(1)
Summary	208	(1)
Final Activity	208	(1)
Epilogue: Keeping Abreast of an Evolving Field	209	(6)
The Internet	209	(3)
Access to Information	209	(1)
Communication With Everyone	210	(1)
New Ideas	210	(1)
Greater Acceptance by the Field	211	(1)
About Theory	212	(1)
About Practice	212	(1)
Journals With a Qualitative Focus	213	(1)
For the Future	214	(1)
Appendix: Checklist for Individual and Focus Group Interviews	215	(2)
Glossary	217	(5)
References	222	(16)
Index	238	(11)
About the Author	249