Qualitative Methods for Family Studies and Human Development

Kerry J. Daly (Ph.D., Sociology, McMaster University) is a full professor in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition at the University of Guelph.  In over a decade of teaching a graduate course on qualitative methods, he has had students from his own interdisciplinary department as well as students from Psychology, Sociology, Nursing and Nutrition, thus sensitizing him to the many different values and procedures that exist across the varied audiences and disciplines that contribute to family studies.  With Jane Gilgun and Gerald Handel, he co-edited the book "Qualitative Methods in Family Research" (Sage 1992), and he has authored a number of articles focusing on qualitative methodology in journals such as "Qualitative Inquiry," "The Journal of Contemporary Ethnography," "Symbolic Interaction," and "Journal of Marriage & Family."  He co-authored the chapter on qualitative research methods in Leon Kuczynski′s "Handbook of Dynamics in Parent-Child Relations (Sage 2003).  He was recipient of the Anselm Strauss Award for the best qualitative research article in 2001.  He was a member of the Steering Committee for the Qualitative Family Research Network, then Chair for 3 years and served for a period as Editor of the Qualitative Family Research newsletter.  His teaching, research, and professional background combine to offer the perfect combination for undertaking this new text.

"Daly has crafted one of the most accessible, comprehensive, and functional texts in research methods that students, scholars, and practitioners concerned with understanding family and development will immensely appreciate."

• Chapter 1: Qualitative Research and the Art of Learning to SeeLearning to SeeThe Paradox of Learning to SeeParadox of Control and our Ability to SeeLessons From the Art World: Positioning Ourselves to See FullyDrawing Informs Research: The Cultivation of Perceptual SkillsChapter 2: Epistemological Considerations in Qualitative ResearchEpistemologyParadigmsEpistemology and Paradigms: Implications for Doing Qualitative ResearchChapter 3: Paths of Inquiry for Qualitative ResearchDeductionInductionAbductionInduction, Deduction and Abduction in Practice: Cycles of InquiryChapter 4: Ontology of the Human Realm: Theoretical Foundations for Qualitative InquiryOntology and the Nature of Human RealityOntological Assumptions About Human DevelopmentOntological Assumptions About FamiliesOntology Shapes InquiryChapter 5: Methodology: How Theory Shapes InquiryEthnography and the Study of CulturePhenomenology: The Study of Conscious ExperienceGrounded Theory MethodologyNarrative Inquiry: The Study of StoryCritical Approaches: The Tradition of Feminist Inquiry and the Example of Participatory Action ResearchChapter 6: Methods of Data Collection and CreationObservationInterviewsFocus GroupsChapter 7: Research design: Constructing a Research ProposalWhat Kind of Chef Are You?Level I: Philosophical and Methodological PositioningLevel II: Developing a Research ProposalOverview of the Research Plan: Practical ConsiderationsChapter 8: Positioning the Self: Role Considerations and the Practices of ReflexivityDimensions of Reflexive PracticeWhy Do We Do Reflexivity?Reflexivity in Family ResearchReflexivity and Social PositioningBalancing Vulnerability and Researcher PresenceChapter 9: Analytical StrategiesWhat is Analysis in Qualitative Research?Analysis for What?Transcription as Part of AnalysisAnalytic Approaches in Various MethodologiesThe Diamond Approach: A Theory Development Model for Qualitative Data AnalysisChapter 10: Integrity Practices: Ethics, Credibility and Politics of Conducting Qualitative ResearchEthical GuidelinesInformed ConsentProtecting Participants Through Confidentiality and AnonymityAccountabilityCredibility issuesConclusion