Handling Qualitative Data: A Practical GuideThe Third Edition of Lyn Richards′ best-selling book is the perfect introduction to qualitative research for students and practitioners. Recognizing that for many new researchers dealing with data is the main point of departure, this book helps them to acquire an understanding of the skills and methodological issues that are central to qualitative research. Author Lyn Richards provides practical guidance on how to handle, reflect on and make sense of rich data, while at the same time showing how a consideration of methods and their philosophical underpinnings informs how we should best handle our data. Detailed sections cover: the processes of making, meeting, sorting, coding, documenting, and exploring qualitative data; how to see a study as a whole and write it, and making and justifying claims. Each chapter smoothly integrates software use with discussion of the main challenges that software users are likely to encounter. Novice researchers who use this book will be able to achieve valid and useful outcomes from qualitative analysis, and ensure they do justice to their data. |
Contents
Companion website | |
Acknowledgements | |
Introduction | |
SETTING | |
Making qualitative data | |
Data records | |
WORKING WITH THE DATA | |
MAKING SENSE OF YOUR DATA | |
Telling | |
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Common terms and phrases
advice analysis analytical coding answer appropriate autocoding catalogue challenges Chapter coded data coding search complex computer storage consider construct context create data records detail develop discussion document enquiry ensure ethical ethnography example explanation explore field notes focus focus groups goal grounded theory handling data Hanshin Earthquake hunches ideas interpretation interview issues log trail material meanings memos methodological node numbers observations outcome participant observation participants patterns people’s processes purpose qualitative methods qualitative project qualitative research qualitative software quantitative Readme reflect relationship relevant reliability requires research design research question revisit RMIT University seeking situation social software package sorts of data stage step stress talk task techniques tell testing text search themes theoretical sampling thinking topic coding transcript triangulation understanding validity what’s going writing