30 Essential Skills for the Qualitative Researcher

John W. Creswell, PhD, is a Professor of Family Medicine and Senior Research Scientist of

the Michigan Mixed Methods Program. He has authored numerous articles and 34 books on

mixed methods research, qualitative research, and research design. While at the University of

NebraskaLincoln, he held the Clifton Endowed Professor Chair, served as Director of the

Mixed Methods Research Office, co-founded SAGEs Journal of Mixed Methods Research, and

was an Adjunct Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan and a consultant to

the Veterans Administration Health Services Research Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was

a Senior Fulbright Scholar to South Africa in 2008 and to Thailand in 2012. In 2011, he co-led

a National Institutes of Health working group on the best practices of mixed methods research

in the health sciences, served as a Visiting Professor at Harvards School of Public Health and

received an honorary doctorate from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. In 2014, he was

the founding President of the Mixed Methods International Research Association. In 2015, he

joined the staff of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan to Co-Direct the Michigan

Mixed Methods Program. In 2017, he coauthored the American Psychological Association

standards on qualitative and mixed methods research. The fourth edition of this book on

Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design won the 2018 McGuffey Longevity Award from the U.S.

Textbook & Academic Authors Association. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he gave virtual

keynote presentations to many countries from his office in Osaka, Japan. Updates on his work

can be found on his website at johnwcreswell.com.

Part I: Understanding the Landscape of Qualitative Research Chapter 1: Thinking Like a Qualitative Researcher Skill Why the skill is important The research process Different approaches to this research process How qualitative researchers think The boat picture The nature of qualitative research The nature of qualitative research Summary Activity Further resources Chapter 2: Building on Quantitative Research Knowledge to Implement Qualitative Research Skill Why the skill is important Characteristics of quantitative research in a quantitative journal article Characteristics of qualitative research in a qualitative journal article Comparing qualitative and quantitative characteristics on a continuum Easy- and hard-to-see components Summary Activity Further resources Chapter 3: Making Your Qualitative Project Rigorous and Conceptually Interesting Skill Why the skill is important Decide on your research topic Refrain from studying your own backyard Make your topic conceptually interesting Include an interesting element in your title Summary Activity Further resources Chapter 4: Managing Difficult Emotions That Come Up During Research Skill Why the skill is important The emotional journey of qualitative research Possible steps in the emotional journey The upside of qualitative research The downside of qualitative research Summary Activity Further resources Chapter 5: Working With Research Advisers and Committees Skill Why the skill is important Educating your committee Putting forward your best material On taking feedback Research committee meetings Summary Activity Further resources Part II: Considering Preliminary Elements Chapter 6: Using Philosophy and Theory in Qualitative Research Skills Why the skills are important The philosophy behind qualitative research Writing about philosophy in your qualitative study Use of theory in qualitative research Summary Activities Further resources Chapter 7: Anticipating Ethical Issues Skill Why the skill is important Human research protections in your qualitative research Ethical issues at different phases in the research Ethical issues I have faced as a qualitative researcher Permissions for borrowed material used in qualitative research A checklist for ethics Summary Activity Further resources Chapter 8: Organizing the Literature Skill Why the skill is important Challenges in reviewing the literature Options for placing the literature in a qualitative study Steps in conducting a literature review Priority for reviewing the literature How to design a literature map Additional ideas about designing a literature map A sample description of a literature map Summary Activity Further resources Chapter 9: Viewing the Structure of a Thesis or Dissertation for a Qualitative Study Skill Why the skill is important Topics typically included in a qualitative proposal or plan Structure of a dissertation or thesis qualitative proposal A concept map of the structure of a qualitative journal article Summary Activity Further resources Part III Introducing a Qualitative Study Chapter 10: Writing a Good Qualitative Title and Abstract Skill Why the skill is important Good qualitative titles Improving titles Definition of an abstract A word about word count Topics of a good abstract Examples of abstracts Summary Activity Further resources Chapter 11: Writing a Good Introduction and Opening Sentence to a Study Skill Why the skill is important Positioning the introduction within a qualitative study Five key elements of a good introduction The first sentence of an introduction Summary Activity Further resources