Qualitative Research Methods (eBook)

Sarah J. Tracy is Associate Professor of Human Communication at Arizona State University-Tempe. She has contributed more than 50 essays to such publications as Qualitative Inquiry, Communication Monographs, Management Communication Quarterly, and others. Dr. Tracy's research has garnered international acclaim and she regularly serves as qualitative methodology expert for granted research.

Detailed contents viii

Preface: is this book for me? xiv

1 Developing contextual research that matters 1

2 Entering the conversation of qualitative research 20

3 Paradigmatic reflections and theoretical foundations 37

4 Fieldwork and fieldplay: Negotiating access and exploring the scene 64

5 Proposal writing: Explaining your research to institutional review boards, instructors, supervisory committees, and funding agencies 87

6 Field roles, fieldnotes, and field focus 105

7 Interview planning and design: Sampling, recruiting, and questioning 130

8 Interview practice: Embodied, mediated, and focus-group approaches 157

9 Data analysis basics: A pragmatic iterative approach 183

10 Advanced data analysis: The art and magic of interpretation 203

11 Qualitative quality: Creating a credible, ethical, significant study 227

12 Writing Part 1: The nuts and bolts of qualitative tales 251

13 Writing Part 2: Drafting, polishing, and publishing 273

14 Qualitative methodology matters: Exiting and communicating impact 296

Appendix A Fieldnote 315

Appendix B Focus group guide 317

Appendix C Interview transcription excerpts 321

References 325

Index 341

"This book provides a detailed step-by-step
explanation of qualitative data gathering, analysis, and writing,
and provides the approach to evaluating qualitative quality. It is
designed to provide enough methodological details to be helpful to
graduate students and advanced scholars, and is a comprehensive
resource for the theoretical undergrounds and practical conduct of
methodology." (NeoPopRealism Journal, 1 August
2013)

"Sarah Tracy has crafted an arresting and energetic field
guide for those undertaking qualitative work in a wide variety of
research areas. Comprehensive and eclectic yet full of solid tips
and engaging examples. A good read for the experienced qualitative
researcher and a most practical and thoughtful one for the
uninitiated."

- John Van Maanen, Erwin H. Schell Professor of Organization
Studies, MIT

"I can't wait to teach qualitative methods again,
just so I can use Sarah Tracy's well-researched, readable,
and comprehensive book. Rarely has a text so successfully connected
personal experience with engaging and storied plotlines, practical
advice, and conceptual and analytic development.
Perfect for demonstrating the value of all approaches, it's a
winner in every way. Those in Communication--all fields
really--are in for a real treat!"

- Carolyn Ellis, University of South Florida