Becoming Qualitative Researchers: An Introduction

224 Pages·1991·34.255 MB·English

by  Corrine Glesne, Alan Peshkin

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An Introduction
Corrine Glesne & Alan Peslikin
University of Vermont University of Illinois
at Urhana-Champaign
mmm
Longman
BECOMING QUALITATIVE RESEARCHERS
Copyright ® 1992 by Longman
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise,
without the prior permission of the publisher.
Longman, 10 Bank Street, White Plains, N.Y. 10606
Associated companies;
Longman Group Ltd., London
Longman Cheshire Pty., Melbourne
Longman Paul Pty., Auckland
Copp Clark Pitman, Toronto
Senior editor: Naomi Silverman
Development editor: Virginia Blanford
Production editor: Linda Moser
Cover design: Joseph DePinho
Production supervisor; Richard Bretan
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Piiblicatioii Data
Glesne, Corrine.
Becoming Qualitative Re.searchers: An Introduction / Corrine Glesne and Alan
Peshkin.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8013-0295-1
1. Social sciences—Methodologv. 1. Peshkin, Alan. 11. Title.
H6LG555 1991
300M —dc20 91 -22604
CIP
10 11 12 13 14-MA- 00 99 98 97 96
Contents
Tables ix
Acknowledgments
Introduction: A Sense of Things to Come xiii
Chapter 1 Meeting Qualitative Inquiry 1
Beginnings 1
Ways of Knowing 4
Qualitative/Quantitative Compatibility 8
The Variability of Qualitative Inquiry 9
What Is to Come 12
Chapter 2 Prestudy Tasks: Doing What Is Good for You 13
The Research Topic 14
The Problem Statement 16
Review of the Literature 17
Use of Theory 19
Site Selection 21
Selection of Research Techniques 24
Selection of Study Participants 24
The Time Frame 27
The Pilot Study 30
The Cover Story 31
Gaining Access 33
Researcher Roles 35
V
VI CONTENTS
Chapter 3 Being There: Developing Understanding Through
Participant Observation 39
The Participant-Observation Continuum 40
Participant-Observation Goals 41
The Participant-Observation Process 42
The Participant Observer 54
Chapter 4 Making Words Fly 63
Developing Questions 65
Setting Up to Interview 73
The Nature of Interviewing 75
Interviewer Attributes That May Contribute to Successful
Interviews 78
Some Typical Problems 87
Concluding Considerations and Summary 91
Chapter 5 The Personal Dimension: Rapport and Subjectivity 93
Rapport 93
Subjectivity 1(X)
Rapport and Subjectivity 106
Notes 107
Chapter 6 But Is It Ethical? Learning to Do Right 109
Ethical Codes 110
Informed Consent 11 1
Researcher Roles and Ethical Dilemmas 112
The Researcher-Other Relationship 117
No Easy Solutions 124
Chapter 7 Finding Your Story: Data Analysis 127
Early Data Analysis 127
Data Display 137
Using Computers in Qualitative Research 141
Making Connections 145
Trustworthiness of Our Interpretations 146
Conclusions 148
Chapter 8 Writing Your Story: What Your Data Say 151
Roles of the Writer 152
Strategies for Writing 155
The Text: Questions of Form and Style 162
Responsibilities of the Writer 171
Chapter 9 The Continuing Odyssey 173
Applications of Qualitative Research: The Outcomes of Your
Adventures 175
Concluding Words 179
References 181
Index 193
Tables
Table 1.1: Predispositions of Quantitative and Qualitative Modes of
Inquiry 7
Table 7.1: Subcodes of the Major Code “Data Analysis” 134
Table 7.2: A Matrix Example of Constraints to Effective Education in
Six Rural Schools 138
Table 7.3: A Matrix Example of Data Patterns and Researcher Hunches
Regarding Constraints to Effective Education in Six Rural
Schools 139
Table 7.4: Partial Taxonomy of the Domain “Things Kids Do at
School” 139
Table 7.5: Frequency Distribution of Perceived Attitudes toward Working
the Land 140
Table 7.6: Frequency Distribution of Perceived Attitudes toward Working
the Land by Dominant Land Tenure Situation of Interviewee 141
Table 7.7: Example Form for Keeping Interview Records 144
Table 8.1: Example of Theme Categories and Illustrative Responses 165
VII
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