Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design

“The Fourth Edition of Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design is refreshingly readable and will be accessible to students of all levels. This is a great text on the subject. Kudos to the authors!"

“In my teaching experience, I have found this to be the best text for teaching an introductory course in qualitative research, as it demonstrates in a clear and systematic manner how qualitative research can be undertaken in the five most popular approaches in contemporary applied social science research.”

“I have been using Creswell’s text since I studied the first edition as a student myself, and every edition has been a notable improvement on what was already an excellent book. I have yet to see another book that packs in as much vital information with such clarity and friendly writing.”

“Creswell and Poth’s newly revised edition of Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design represents an accessible yet in-depth resource for developing an understanding of both the main approaches to qualitative research in the social sciences, as well as the wide variation across and beyond these approaches.”

“Creswell and Poth bring clear guidelines to the area of qualitative research – an excellent resource for building the framework for a successful qualitative study.”

“An excellent, detailed and clear guide for anyone seeking further knowledge about qualitative inquiry.”

John W. Creswell, PhD, is a professor of family medicine and co-director of the Michigan Mixed Methods Research and Scholarship Program at the University of Michigan. He has authored numerous articles and 28 books on mixed methods research, qualitative research, and research design. While at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he held the Clifton Endowed Professor Chair, served as director of a mixed methods research office, 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. He was a Senior Fulbright Scholar to South Africa in 2008 and to Thailand in 2012. In 2011, he co-led a national working group on mixed methods practices at the National Institutes of Health, 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 president of the Mixed Methods International Research Association. In 2015, he joined the staff of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan. John has been teaching research methods courses for the past 40 years.. 

Cheryl N. Poth, PhD, has been a faculty member of the Centre for Research and Applied Measurement and Evaluation within the Department of Educational Psychology in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta since 2008. In this role, she has developed and taught graduate-level research methods and program evaluation courses in addition to supervising and mentoring students, faculty, and community members in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research. Dr. Poth has an adjunct appointment in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry and serves as the methodologist on several cross-disciplinary research teams. She has been principal investigator for projects and grants funded federally (e.g., Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and Physiotherapy Foundation of Canada), provincially (e.g., Alberta Education and Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research and Alberta Advisory Committee for Educational Studies), and locally (e.g., University of Alberta and School Boards). She has authored over 30 peer reviewed journal articles and served as guest co-editor of two special issues of the International Journal of Qualitative Methods. In addition to more than 100 conference and 25 workshop presentations, she served as co-chair of the 2013 Advances in Qualitative Methods Conference (AQM). She has led research methods workshops with diverse audiences; for example, at the International Institute of Qualitative Methods Thinking Qualitatively Series. She is a current editorial board member of the International Journal of Qualitative Methods and the Journal of Mixed Met...

Chapter 1 Introduction Purpose and Rationale for the Book What Is New in This Edition Positioning Ourselves Definition of Qualitative Research Selection of the Five Approaches Key Book Readings Audience Organization Chapter 2 Philosophical Assumptions and Interpretive Frameworks Questions for Discussion Situating Philosophy and Interpretive Frameworks (Theory) within the Research Process Philosophical Assumptions Interpretive Framework The Practice of Using Social Justice Interpretive Frameworks in Qualitative Research Linking Philosophy and Interpretive Frameworks in Qualitative Research Chapter Check-in Summary Further Readings Chapter 3 Designing a Qualitative Study Questions for Discussion The Characteristics of Qualitative Research When to Use Qualitative Research What a Qualitative Study Requires From Us The Features of a "Good" Qualitative Study The Process of Designing a Qualitative Study Ethics in Qualitative Research The Design Structures of a Plan or Proposal Chapter Check-in Summary Further Readings Chapter 4 Five Qualitative Approaches to Inquiry Questions for Discussion Deciding Among the Five Approaches Narrative Research Phenomenological Research Grounded Theory Research Ethnographic Research Case Study Research Comparing The Five Approaches Chapter Check-in Summary Further Readings Chapter 5 Five Different Qualitative Studies Questions for Discussion A Narrative Study (Chan, 2010; see Appendix B) A Phenomenological Study (Anderson & Spencer, 2002; see Appendix C) A Grounded Theory Study (Harley et al., 2009; see Appendix D) An Ethnographic Study (Mac an Ghaill and Haywood, 2015; see Appendix E) A Case Study (Frelin, 2015; see Appendix F) Differences Among the Approaches Chapter Check-in Summary Further Readings Chapter 6 Introducing and Focusing the Study Questions for Discussion Interrelating the Study Problem, Purpose, and Questions within Research The Research Problem Statement The Purpose Statement The Research Questions Chapter Check-in Summary Further Readings Chapter 7 Data Collection Questions for Discussion The Data Collection Circle Data Storage & Security Five Approaches Compared Chapter Check-in Summary Further Readings Chapter 8 Data Analysis and Representation Questions for Discussion Ethical Considerations for Data Analysis Three Analysis Strategies The Data Analysis Spiral Analysis Within Approaches to Inquiry Comparing the Five Approaches Computer Use in Qualitative Data Analysis Chapter Check-in Summary Further Readings Chapter 9 Writing a Qualitative Study Questions for Discussion Ethical Considerations for Reporting Several Writing Strategies Overall and Embedded Writing Strategies A Comparison of Narrative Structures Across Approaches Chapter Check-in Summary Further Readings Chapter 10 Standards of Validation and Evaluation Questions for Discussion Validation and Reliability in Qualitative Research Evaluation Criteria Comparing the Evaluation Standards of the Five Approaches Chapter Check-in Summary Further Readings Chapter 11 "Turning the Story" and Conclusion Turning the Story "Campus Response to a Student Gunman" Kelly J. Asmussen and John W. Creswell A Case Study A Narrative Study A Phenomenology A Grounded Theory Study An Ethnography Conclusion Chapter Check-in