The Practice of Qualitative Research

This lucid text covers nearly every aspect of qualitative research, with useful attention being paid to the thorny logistics and pragmatic problems often encountered by researchers in the field. It is a great introduction for students and a necessary resource for the more seasoned. – Brian CreechThis is a great step-by-step teaching tool for students on how to conduct qualitative research. – Kristen K. BowenWith ample examples, The Practice of Qualitative Research provides clear guidance for students who aspire to conduct a qualitative research project. – Aya Kimura IdaThis is a practical and easy-to-use manual for doctoral students in our program. The book is a thorough understanding of all the nuances and challenges of qualitative research with step-by-step approaches. This book takes some of the burden off the doctoral chair and allows the student more independence. I′m impressed! – Jeanne L. SurfaceIn the new edition examples are clear, relevant, and applicable. Each chapter provides relevant, engaging examples that illustrate the selected method by including transcriptions, research studies, and personal accounts. Students will be required to read this text to learn about qualitative methods, but I predict this is one text they will actually want to read because it brings them stories of insights into the practice of learning the trade. – Susan L. Wortmann

Sharlene Nagy Hesse-Biber (PhD, University of Michigan) is Professor of Sociology and Director of the Women’s Studies & Gender Studies Program at Boston College in Massachusetts. She has published widely on the impact of sociocultural factors on women’s body image, including her book Am I Thin Enough Yet? The Cult of Thinness and the Commercialization of Identity, which was selected as one of Choice Magazine’s best academic books for 1996. She has also written widely on methodological and methods issues, including the role of technology and emergent methods in social research. Dr. Hesse-Biber is co-editor of Emergent Methods in Social Research and the Handbook of Emergent Methods, as well as co-author of The Practice of Qualitative Research. She is also editor of the Handbook of Feminist Research: Theory and Praxis, which was selected as one of the Critics’ Choice Award winners by the American Education Studies Association and was also chosen as one of Choice Magazine’s Outstanding Academic titles for 2007. Dr. Hesse-Biber is co-developer of the software program HyperRESEARCH, a computer-assisted program for analyzing qualitative data, and the new transcription tool HyperTRANSCRIBE. For more information, see