Further Readings and Resources

Suggested Readings

Bernard, H. R. (2000). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

This book, written by a well-known qualitative researcher and prolific methodological writer, summarizes key principles of qualitative and mixed-methods research design and data collection.

Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). (2005). The Sage handbook of qualitative research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

This is one of the most comprehensive accounts of qualitative research, edited and with chapters by two well-known sociologists. Chapters written by numerous experienced researchers include explications of paradigms; specialized approaches from the perspectives of racial and ethnic groups; gender, sexual orientation, and other important demographic and political differences; as well as presentations on dissemination, research ethics, and other topics.

DeWalt, K., & DeWalt, B. R. (2002). Doing participant observation. Lanham, MA: AltaMira.

This unusual and very helpful publication by two experienced qualitative researchers highlights and solves central methodological and other problems in the collection, recording, organizing, and analysis of field notes based on participant observation ranging from positivist to participatory.

Pelto, P.J., & Pelto, G. H. (1978). Anthropological research: The structure of inquiry (2nd ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press.

This is one of the earliest explications of qualitative and mixed-methods research methodology and data collection methods, written by two anthropologists with extensive U.S. and cross-national qualitative research experience. The publication defines science for the social sciences, and outlines many different ways of collecting qualitative data in community and organizational contexts. It is used by social scientists from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including educational researchers, and remains a widely read original piece of work.

Schensul J.J., & LeCompte, M. D. (1999). The ethnographers' toolkit (Vols. 1–7). Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.

This seven-volume set, currently in its second edition, covers all aspects of the qualitative research and ethnographic enterprise. The author-editors describe ethnography as mixed-methods research that generates cultural theories about the way communities and schools function and how individuals respond in terms of beliefs and practices. The set includes a general introduction (Book 1), a text on conceptualizing and designing qualitative research (Book 2), two books on basic and more specialized qualitative data collection methods (Books 3 and 4), and a book on approaches to analysis of qualitative data (Book 5). Book 6 is an examination of ethical considerations in qualitative research, including IRB reviews and partner relationships. Finally, Book 7 addresses the application of qualitative research results to solving social and other community problems. Book 1 of the second edition is now in print; Books 2 through 7 will be available by fall 2011.

Spradley, J. P.(1979). The ethnographic interview. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston; Spradley, J. P. (1980). Participant observation. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Both of these early books remain relevant accounts of the two critical data collection methods that qualitative researchers use: participant observation and in-depth interviewing. The author emphasizes the importance of the cultural domain in focusing the collection of interview and observation data, and uses the idea of domain analysis to describe and interpret cultural phenomena. This is necessary reading for those interested in cognitive or mental aspects of culture.

Organizations and Web Sites

Institute for Community Research (ICR) (http://incommunityresearch.org)

On this official Web site of the Institute for Community Research, you will find many examples of qualitative and mixed-methods studies and study results. You may also contact ICR researchers about their work or obtain their methods publications, including manuals for training youth to do their own qualitative research, through the Web site.

Online QDA: Learning Qualitative Data Analysis on the Web (http://onlineqda.hud.ac.uk/Intro_QDA/what_is_qda.php)

This Web site provides definitions for qualitative data analysis and is linked to an electronic mailing list and trainings in data analysis and software offered throughout Europe and the United States.

ResearchTalk (www.researchtalk.com/)

This institution, founded by qualitative sociologists, offers training throughout the year on analysis of qualitative data. ResearchTalk also provides specialized on-site training in the use of text management and analysis software.