Essentials of Qualitative Inquiry

Maria J. Mayan is a senior qualitative methodologist, a professor at the School of Public Health, and an associate director with the Community-University Partnership, University of Alberta, Canada. She has taught qualitative inquiry to government, not-for-profits, the private sector, and the academic community worldwide for three decades and conducted qualitative work in a host of diverse settings.

"Maria Mayan has been intimately engaged in the qualitative research methodology community for most of her career. In this introductory text, she opens up a window into the diverse terminology, positioning and theoretical orientations to inquiry based on qualitative approaches. This will be an excellent resource for scholars of all disciplines entering into the world of what it is to discover the world qualitatively.In this delightful introductory text, Dr. Mayan exposes newer scholars to the kaleidoscope of terminology and positioning that underpins qualitative inquiry, allowing them to make informed choices as to the ideal options that will meet their own disciplinary and substantive research aspirations.The world of qualitative inquiry involves a complex array of traditions, positionings and methodological approaches. In this introductory text, Maria Mayan guides neophyte scholars and those new to qualitative inquiry through the complex array of possibilities. The choice of methodological approach to guide a qualitative study can position a newer scholar for success or for failure. In this introductory text, Dr. Mayan supports the reader on a journey through possibilities and toward informed methodological decisions." -- Sally Thorne, University of British Columbia, Canada; author of Interpretive Description (Routledge)"Essentials of Qualitative Inquiry is both a highly informative introductory text and a comprehensive reference work for newcomers to qualitative research. Mayan documents and clearly explains the myriad approaches, terms, and understandings of the method through engaging narrative and exemplary summary tables." -- Johnny Saldaña, Professor Emeritus, Arizona State University, USA"It is rare to find one book, especially one great book, that captures the nuances and key components of qualitative research—the various theoretical paradigms, methodological considerations, and ways to collect, analyze, and represent qualitative data accurately and ethically. Yet here is one of those great books—an accessible, practical, and inviting work that will indeed serve as an invaluable guide for doing great qualitative research." -- Tony Adams, Caterpillar Professor of Communication, Bradley University, USA"This practical, real-world introduction to qualitative research distills Mayan’s experience in learning, conducting, and teaching qualitative methods across three decades, four continents, and numerous disciplines. Though written for the novice, it never avoids the complexities of doing research: the uncertainties of conducting rigorous research in a messy world, the struggle for methodological coherence, the leap from recording daily experience to meaningful theory, the need to respect and care for both study participants and the researcher, the power of research to enhance social justice. With Mayan’s guidance, your students will become knowledgeable and passionate practitioners of qualitative inquiry." -- Mitchell Allen, Scholarly Roadside Service and UC Berkeley, USA

• 1. Introduction to Qualitative Inquiry  2. Foundations of Qualitative Inquiry  3. Methodology  4. Arts-Based Research  5. Other Approaches  6. Research Questions, Sampling, and Saturation  7. Data Collection  8. Data Analysis  9. Ethics: Protecting Participants, Protecting Self  10. Rigor  11. Representation and Writing