Handbook of Qualitative Research Methods for Psychology and the Social Sciences

This book explains the principal qualitative methods and applies them to psychological problems. It is designed for use in psychology and also other branches of social science. The books main aim is to increase people's confidence to use qualitative methods in their own research. Part I: Introducing qualitative research methods.

1. Introduction.

2. Psychology, qualitative methods and the ideas of science.

3. Qualitative inquiry: perspectives, methods and psychology.

Part II: Using qualitative research methods.

4. Protocol analysis: theoretical background.

5. Protocol analysis: practical implementation.

6. Grounded theory: theoretical background.

7. Grounded theory: practical implementation.

8. Ethnography: theoretical background.

9. Ethnography: practical implementation.

10. Discourse analysis and constructionist approaches: theoretical background.

11. Discourse analysis: practical implementation.

Part III: Evaluating qualitative research methods.

12. The relationship between qualitative and quantitative research.

13. The use of the self in qualitative research.

14. Evolving issues for qualitative psychology.

'In view of the increased attention being given to qualitative methods, this volume is timely and should provide a thorough introduction to the topic, growing as it has out of a series of workshops held by the BPS over several years...
This book should prove very useful as a set text on a research methods course for a number of disciplines and would be a welcome addition to the library of those currently engaged in research, giving many new ideas and challenging preconceptions about qualitative methods.'
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.

The editor Professor John Richardson is Head of the Department of Human Sciences, Brunel University, UK, and a Fellow of the British Psychological Society.
The contributing authors come form a wide range of disciplines and were chosen for their expertise and direct experience of qualitative methods. This book explains the principal qualitative methods and applies them to psychological problems. It is designed for use in psychology and also other branches of social science, including anthropology and sociology. The book's main aim is to increase people's confidence to use qualitative methods in their own research.