Research in the College Context

Frances K. Stage is Professor of Higher Education at New York University, USA.Kathleen Manning is Professor Emerita of Higher Education and Student Affairs at the University of Vermont, USA.

"This is a treasure trove of preferred inquiry approaches that helps us better understand the many complex factors and conditions that affect the performance of postsecondary institutions and their students." --George D. Kuh, Director, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment and Adjunct Research Professor, University of Illinois"This book offers a clear, accessible introduction to multiple research perspectives, including their foundations, key concepts, uses in multiple contexts, and limitations. The chapter authors acknowledge the complexity of core considerations of research design and implementation, and emphasize the role of context throughout the research process."--Marcia Baxter Magolda, Distinguished Professor Emerita of Educational Leadership and Student Affairs in Higher Education, Miami University"Stage and Manning have assembled an excellent book to aid higher education scholars and researchers. The text provides both depth and breadth of diverse methodological perspectives, all extremely useful to those wishing to conduct research in postsecondary settings. I highly recommend this book to be adopted in higher education related research courses, and I have no doubt that it will."--Lori D. Patton, Associate Professor of Higher Education and Student Affairs, Indiana University

• PrefacePart 1: Developing a Context for ResearchChapter 1: Choosing a Method: What is your Question? Frances K. Stage and Kathleen ManningChapter 2: What Is Your Research Approach? Kathleen Manning and Frances K. StagePart 2: Respondent-Based MethodsChapter 3: The Qualitative Interview Anna M. Ortiz Chapter 4: Focus Groups Jillian Kinzie Part 3: Mixed MethodsChapter 5: Participatory Action Research Lindsey E. Malcom-PiqueuxChapter 6: Mixed Methods Research Dorian L. McCoyPart 4: Using Original and Pre-Existing Data and ResourcesChapter 7: Visual Methods in Higher Education Amy Scott MetcalfeChapter 8: Document Analysis, Oral History and Historical MethodsMichelle Dionne ThompsonChapter 9: Policy Analysis Research Teboho Moja Chapter 10: Surveys Drew AllenPart 5: Large Data Set AnalysisChapter 11: Secondary Data Analysis Diane Cardenas Elliott Chapter 12: Large National Data Sets Ryan WellsPart 6: Communicating Your Results – Adding to the Knowledge of the FieldChapter 13: Reporting Results and Conclusion Frances K. Stage and Kathleen Manning Contributor Biographies