"... a wonderfully easy-to-follow text which manages to combine practical procedures with clear explanations of the underlying theoretical concepts."
Nursing Standard (from review of first edition)
The third edition of this successful book incorporates recent developments in nursing research, with updates to every chapter. Abstract ideas in qualitative research are clearly explained and more complex theories are included. Structured into four clear sections, the book looks at initial stages, methods of data collection, qualitative approaches and analysis of collected data.
- Brand new chapter on Mixed Methods Research
- Considers a variety of approaches from Ethnography to Action Research
- Allows the reader to dip in and out depending on their choice of approach
- Detailed reference lists provide guidance for further reading
- Links research with real nursing practice through relevant examples throughout
Table of Contents:
Preface. Acknowledgements.
Part One: Introduction to Qualitative Research: Initial Stages.
1 The Nature and Utility of Qualitative Research.
What is qualitative research?
The main features of qualitative research.
The place of theory in qualitative research.
The usefulness of qualitative research in healthcare.
Choosing an approach for health research.
Problematic issues in qualitative research.
Conclusion.
Summary.
References.
Further reading.
2 The Paradigm Debate: The Place of Qualitative Research.
Theoretical frameworks and ontological position.
The paradigm debate.
Conflicting or complementary perspectives?
Final comment.
References.
Further reading.
3 Initial Steps in the Research Process.
Selecting and formulating the research question.
The literature review.
Writing a research proposal.
Access and entry to the setting.
Summary.
References.
Further reading.
4 Ethical Considerations.
The basic ethical framework for research.
Ethics in qualitative research.
Researching one’s peers.
The research relationship.
Research in the researcher’s workplace.
The role of research ethics committees.
Summary.
References.
Further reading.
5 The Issue of Supervision.
The responsibilities of supervisor and student.
Writing and relationships.
Practical aspects of supervision.
Single or joint supervision.
Problems with supervision.
Summary.
References.
Further reading.
Part Two: Data Collection.
6 Interviewing.
Interviews as sources of data.
The interview process.
Types of interview.
Probing, prompting and summarising.
The social context of the interview.
Unexpected outcomes: qualitative interviewing and therapy.
Length and timing of interviews.
Recording interview data.
The interviewer–participant relationship.
Problematic issues and challenges in interviewing.
Interviewing through electronic media.
Ethical issues in interviewing.
Strengths and weaknesses of interviewing.
Summary.
References.
Further reading.
7 Participant Observation and Documents as Sources of Data.
Participant observation.
The origins of participant observation.
Immersion in culture and setting.
Documentary sources of data.
Images as sources of data.
Summary.
References.
Further reading.
8 Focus Groups as Qualitative Research.
What is a focus group?
The origin and purpose of focus groups.
Sample size and composition.
Conducting focus group interviews.
Analysing and reporting focus group data.
Advantages and limitations of focus groups.
Critical comments on focus group interviews in healthcare.
Summary.
References.
Further reading.
9 Sampling and Site Selection.
Purposeful (or purposive) sampling.
Sampling types.
Sampling decisions.
How shall we name them?
Summary.
References.
Part Three: Approaches to Qualitative Research.
10 Ethnography.
The historical perspective.
A focus on culture.
Ethnographic methods.
Ethnography in healthcare.
The main features of ethnography.
Fieldwork.
Doing and writing ethnography.
Pitfalls and problems.
Summary.
References.
Further reading.
11 Grounded Theory.
History and origin.
The main features of grounded theory.
Data collection, theoretical sampling and analysis.
Pitfalls and problems.
Glaser’s critique and further development.
Constructivist grounded theory.
Which approach for the health researcher?
Summary.
References.
Further reading.
12 Narrative Inquiry.
The nature of narrative and story.
Narrative research.
Types of narrative.
Illness narratives.
Narrative interviewing.
Narrative analysis.
Problematic issues.
Conclusion.
Summary.
References.
Further reading.
13 Phenomenology.
Intentionality and the early stages of phenomenology.
Schools of phenomenology.
The phenomenological research process: doing phenomenology.
Procedures for data collection and analysis.
Phenomenology and health research.
Choice of approach: descriptive or interpretive phenomenology.
Summary.
References.
Further reading.
14 Action Research.
What is action research?
The origins of action research.
Action research in healthcare.
The main features of action research.
Practical steps.
Trustworthiness in AR.
Problems and critique.
Summary.
References.
Further reading.
15 Additional Approaches.
Case study research.
Conversation analysis.
Critical incident technique.
Discourse analysis.
Feminist research.
Performative social science.
Conclusion.
References.
Further reading.
16 Mixed Methods: Combining Qualitative and Quantitative
Research.
The nature of mixed methods studies.
Doing mixed methods research.
Types of mixed methods research.
The place and purpose of the literature.
Triangulation.
Critique of MMR.
Conclusion.
Summary.
References.
Further reading.
Part Four: Data Analysis and Completion.
17 Data Analysis: Procedures, Practices and Computers.
The process of data analysis.
Coding and categorising.
Problems of QDA.
Computer-aided analysis of qualitative data.
Problems and critique.
Summary.
References.
Further reading.
18 Establishing Quality: Trustworthiness or Validity.
Quality.
An alternative perspective: trustworthiness.
Trustworthiness.
Strategies to ensure trustworthiness.
Quality and creativity.
Summary.
References.
Further reading.
19 Writing up Qualitative Research.
The research account.
Use of the first person.
The format of the report.
Critical assessment and evaluation.
Guide to appraisal.
Publishing and presenting the research.
Summary.
References
Further reading.
Glossary.
Index.
About the Author :
Professor Immy Holloway has been at Bournemouth University since its inception and works in the School of Health and Social Care. Though now retired from full-time work, she still takes an active in teaching and PhD supervision. She wrote, edited and co-wrote several books in the field of qualitative research which have been translated into several languages and published articles in peer reviewed journals. Her latest book is A-Z of Qualitative Research in Healthcare (2008) Oxford: Blackwell.
Stephanie Wheeler, an academic with a nursing and health visiting background, is a specialist in healthcare ethics and was for many years chair of an ethics committee. She has given lectures on ethics all over the UK, organised research conferences in qualitative research and also published in this field.
