Pearson eText for Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences -- Instant Access, 9th Edition

Effective research practices and interview skills

• NEW - More attention to mixed methods, spatial analysis, and visual data.
• NEW - A greater focus on research design and preparation.
• NEW - More contemporary research cited in examples to help relate the techniques to students' experiences.
• EXPANDED - Expanded discussions on ethical challenges and lapses in research.
• Software and internet-based tools integrated for research design, data collection, coding, and analysis throughout the entire text.
• A review of research ethics to better reflect the role of institutional review and the unique ethical concerns of cyber research and electronic media in research, as well as to add practical advice on researcher safety.
• Descriptions of the literature review process to incorporate electronic access to primary and secondary sources.
• Practical guidance for evaluating the reliability and applicability of different sources of information and different means of acquiring it.
• Inclusion of social-historical research as a methodology.
• A discussion of interview guidelines for non-standardized and semi-standardized interview formats.
• A section on organizing one's research from design to completion.
• An innovative strategy for conducting in-depth interviews using a dramaturgical orientation.
• Presentation of and discussion about examples of research from across the social sciences, including sociology, criminology, community-oriented nursing, education, and business.
• Detailed descriptions of the stages of content analysis and coding, both as a research strategy in its own right and as the underlying logic for most qualitative data analysis.
• Focus-group interviewing -- one of the fastest growing styles of data collection -- described in detail, as well as enhanced discussion of using the internet to undertake focus-group interviews.
• The importance of researcher reflexivity and voice, discussed in detail throughout.
• Resources for further study, in the extensive references after each chapter, to encourage independent learning.
• A step-by-step discussion on how to write qualitative research proposals and findings, as well as a series of specific writing hints.

Challenging exercises and activities

• NEW - More challenging exercises or questions for discussion.
• Class exercises at natural break-points within the longer chapters, to better assist instructors in the pacing of the materials and/or to enable instructors to pair this text with a reader or other secondary text.
• An assortment of hands-on activities, such as "Trying It Out" exercises in each chapter, giving students an opportunity to experience qualitative research first hand.
• Numerous, concrete examples from contemporary and classic cases to ensure that students understand the various procedures and concepts.

Current, accessible coverage

• NEW - New sections on when and why the tools and techniques work, and when they do not.
• NEW - Continued attention to remaining current with information technologies.
• NEW - Reorganization of materials that had given students difficulties in past editions.
• NEW - Continued emphasis on engaging and challenging readers.
• A highly accessible "essay" style of presentation.

Pearson eText benefits for your students

• UPDATED - Intuitive eText navigation. The newly redesigned interface looks and performs better than ever to make navigation a breeze.
• UPDATED - Find it fast. Enhanced search makes it easy to quickly find a key term or topic to study. Students can also search videos, images, and their own notes.
• UPDATED - Read online or offline. You and your students can download the mobile app to read wherever life takes you, even offline. The app is available on the App Store^® and Google Play Store.
• Help students personalize their eText. Students can easily add their own notes, bookmarks, and highlights directly in their eText.
• NEW - Listen and learn. Play the full audiobook to listen to your eText on the go or at home. (Available with select titles.)
• Engage learners with compelling media. Videos and animations bring key concepts to life, helping students place what they are reading into context. (Available with select titles.)
• UPDATED - Let students check their understanding. Flashcards help students review key terms and concepts. Students can use pre-built flashcards or create their own to study how they like. (Available with select titles.)