Product Description

The Second Edition of this bestselling text offers students and first-time researchers invaluable guidance to the practice of qualitative social research.

Throughout the author addresses the key issues which need to be identified and resolved in the qualitative research process, and through which researchers develop essential skills in qualitative research. The book highlights the`difficult questions' that researchers should get into the habit of asking themselves in the course of doing qualitative research, and outlines the implications of the different ways of responding to these questions.

Qualitative Researching bridges the gap between `cook-book' approaches to qualitative research and abstract methodological approaches. Helping the reader to move comfortably between principle and practice, this text has proved to be an invaluable introduction to qualitative research, and a useful aid to accomplished qualitative research practice across the social sciences.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #133713 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

Qualitative Researching
This is a wonderful introduction to the subject of qualitative researching, particularly for those who do not have a background in the social sciences.

excellent method and theory overview
This is perhaps one of the best books on method I've read. If you are interested in qualitative research methods, get a copy of this book. Mason's book:
1. covers methodological as well as theory issues
2. prepares the reader to conduct qualitative research in the social, behavioral, cognitive, and related sciences
3. discusses presentation issues and coping with a "culture" bias towards quantitative research
4. makes a compelling argument for qualitative research to make even the most jaded and ardent quantitative methodologist to have second thoughts

One central approach Mason uses is to propose questions that force the researcher to think about the research, analysis, and presentation, and form the basis for a good review strategy for qualitative work.

One of my top five books for researchers - I study human-computer interaction, and am (at heart) a computer scientist - this book has helped me see beyond artifact to the true meaning of contribution and value. As a related note, this book is an excellent course text for a graduate course on research methods.

Abstract text--not recommended
I was required to read this for a doctoral seminar in Research Design (in the social sciences). The text was clearly used for the class to be a comparison to other texts, because Mason's emphasis is different than many qualitative research texts. Mason emphasizes the importance of the researcher's own perspectives as something that will affect the research process. She also seems to think that research is a fluid process which allows you to change your research questions in the middle of your project, or adapt your whole study based on some of your earlier findings. I have not come across any other texts that would support this approach as a sound one.

If you are a linear, rational thinker, you may find this book to be too "out there." For instance the whole first chapter discusses "5 important questions" that should guide your research projects. It repeatedly refers to how important these 5 questions are, but then it actually lists and describes SIX questions in that chapter. For a $45 *used* book, I expect the author and/or publishing staff to be able to count to six... This is what I mean when I describe the text as "out there." I did not find the it to be meaningfully-structured or really helpful for designing high-quality research. The main benefit of this book is that it provides a contrast to more standard research approaches, but I would never recommend this book.