Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing among Five Traditions [Paperback]

John W. Creswell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0761901442 | ISBN-13: 978-0761901440 | Edition: 1st

This book explores the philosophical underpinnings, history and key elements of five qualitative inquiry traditions: biography, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography and case study. John W Creswell relates research designs to each of the traditions of inquiry and compares each of the research strategies for theoretical frameworks, writing introduction to studies, collecting data, analyzing data, writing the narrative, and employing standards of quality and verifying results. Five journal articles in the appendix offer fascinating reading as well as examples of the five different qualitative designs.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Creswell is Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he teaches courses and writes about research design, qualitative methodology, and mixed methods research. He has been at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for 30 years and has authored or co-authored 19 books adressing research methods and methodologies, including the bestselling text Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches, Third Edition (SAGE, 2009). He founded the Office of Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus that provides campus support for scholars incorporating qualitative and mixed methods research into projects for extramural funding. He has also held the Clifton Research Endowed Chair at Nebraska. He served as the founding and Co-Editor for the Journal of Mixed Methods Research. He has been an Adjunct Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan and a consultant to the Veterans Affairs Health Science Research Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was selected to be a Senior Fulbright Scholar and visited South Africa in October, 2008, bringing mixed methods concepts to universities and studying documentaries about AIDS victims and families. In February 2012 he will visit Thailand as a Senior Fulbright Scholar on mixed methods. John Creswell play the piano, writes short stories, and actively engages in sports.

Product Details

• Paperback: 424 pages
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc; 1st edition (July 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761901442
• ISBN-13: 978-0761901440
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > Medical Books > Research

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

102 of 103 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book delivers!, May 14, 2002

By 

Amy L. Gilliland (Madison, WI United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing among Five Traditions (Paperback)

Creswell manages to clearly explain differences and similarities of the five methods. Vocabulary, glossaries, examples and illustrations make each of the methodologies come alive to the reader. It is excellent as a review for someone who is writing their thesis, or for a new graduate student to grasp an understanding of qualitative methods. Creswell includes complete articles that illustrate the principles behind each of the methods. This is a "how to" and "what" book. It does not go into the philosophy behind each of the methods or the history of their development. For that perspective, try Denzin and Lincoln's Handbook of Qualitative Research. But when you are clearly defining a research project, it isn't philosophy that helps you! This book is a definite must for anyone interested in understanding or critiquing qualitative methods, or writing a qualitative proposal. Highly recommended!!!

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A helpful tour guide for your journey, July 8, 2004

By 

Stacey M Jones (Conway, Ark.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing among Five Traditions (Paperback)

This book really helped me write my master's thesis. For anyone who may be doing graduate study in the social sciences and is interested in qualitative research, this is a GREAT place to start.

My friend suggested this book to me when my thesis adviser told me to get a book on qualitative research as I was trying to design my study of a newspaper and its relationships with strategic publics. In this book Creswell clearly and logically lays out five different qualitative research traditions (1. a biographical life history; 2. a phenomenology; 3. a grounded theory study; 4, an ethnography; and 5. a case study). Creswell guides researchers on the rationale for each method, the design, and corresponding data collection, analysis and narrative report, while giving ample references for further reading in one's chosen tradition. Particularly helpful are the appendices that include example studies of each methodology.

I needed other sources to supplement what I learned here, but this book really gave me an excellent foundation with which to proceed. I recommend it to anyone who is trying to design a qualitative study and isn't sure where to start.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for your qualitative research, December 14, 2004

By 

Carolyn J. Decker (Bartlett, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing among Five Traditions (Paperback)

This is one of John Creswell's best books by far. I purchased it in paperback and actually had it spiral bound by a local print shop because I used it so much. I can't go on enough of how helpful this book was with one of my doctoral courses. I am glad our professor choose this text because when we went through various pieces of the five qualitative designs it gave great examples, detailed lists for guidance, and a great glossary. The studies in the text were very helpful as well. I recommend every masters and doctoral student to add it to their bookshelf, I guarantee you will use it a lot. It is invaluable!!!