Table Of ContentQualitative Research Methods for
Community Development
The second edition of Qualitative Research Methods for Community Development
teaches the basic skills, tools, and methods of qualitative research with special
attention to the needs of community practitioners. This book teaches stu-
dents entering planning, community development, nonprofit management,
social work, and similar applied fields the core skills necessary to conduct
systematic research designed to empower communities and promote social
change.
Focusing on the basic elements of qualitative research, such as field
observation, interviewing, focus groups, and content analysis, this second
edition of Qualitative Research Methods for Community Development provides
an overview of core methods and theoretical underpinnings of successful
research. It also includes two new chapters on qualitative data analysis soft-
ware and techniques for conducting online qualitative interviews and focus
groups.
From housing, community organizing, neighborhood planning, and urban
revitalization, this book gives students the skills they need to undertake their
own projects and provides professionals a valuable reference for their future
research. Qualitative Research Methods for Community Development serves as a
primary text for courses in applied qualitative research and as a reference
book for professionals and community-based researchers.
Robert Mark Silverman is a professor in the Department of Urban and
Regional Planning at the University at Buffalo. He holds a PhD in urban
studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He also holds a BS in
political science and a master’s in public administration from Arizona State
University. Robert’s research focuses on community development, nonprofit
sector, community-based organizations, education reform, and inequality in
inner-city housing markets. He has published in Journal of Urban Affairs, Urban
Affairs Review, Urban Studies, Urban Education, National Civic Review, Cityscape,
Journal of Community Practice, Community Development, Journal of Black Studies,
Journal of Social History, and other peer-reviewed journals. He is coauthor
of Affordable Housing in US Shrinking Cities: From Neighborhoods of Despair to
Neighborhoods of Opportunity? (2016). Robert is coeditor of Schools and Urban
Revitalization: Rethinking Institutions and Community Development (Routledge,
2013) and Fair and Affordable Housing in the US: Trends, Outcomes, Future Di-
rections (2011). He is also editor of Community-Based Organizations: The Inter-
section of Social Capital and Local Context in Contemporary Urban Society (2004).
Kelly L. Patterson is an associate professor in the School of Social Work at the
University at Buffalo. She holds a PhD in urban studies from the University
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a master’s in public affairs from the University at
Buffalo, and a BA in sociology from North Carolina Central University. Her
research focuses on rent vouchers, fair housing, discrimination, social pol-
icy, and the African American experience. Kelly has published in Journal of
Community Practice, Journal of Urban Affairs, Housing Policy Debate, Housing and
Society, Cityscape, Journal of Social Service Research, Journal of Black Psychology,
and other peer-reviewed journals. She is coauthor of Affordable Housing in US
Shrinking Cities: From Neighborhoods of Despair to Neighborhoods of Opportunity?
(2016). Kelly is coeditor of Schools and Urban Revitalization: Rethinking Insti-
tutions and Community Development (Routledge, 2013) and Fair and Affordable
Housing in the US: Trends, Outcomes, Future Directions (2011).
“Qualitative Research Methods for Community Development is an accessible text
on qualitative methods suitable to undergraduates, master’s students, and
even professionals. With a unique focus on community development, social
work, and planning, the book makes qualitative research and data analysis
techniques approachable. The discussion of online research tools and meth-
ods is a valuable addition to the new edition.”
Alessandro Rigolon, Department of City and Metropolitan Planning, the
University of Utah
“New content on online engagement techniques is a very useful addition to
the second edition of Qualitative Research Methods for Community Development.
This is increasingly forming the cornerstone of participation strategies in
professional practice, so understanding its potential is essential for practition-
ers. The online approach is also now ever-present in students’ projects and
something that is integral to research.”
Nick Croft, charted town planner (MRTPI) with 19 years professional planning
practice in the UK. He has worked as a university senior lecturer since 2006, leading
online distance learning master’s programs
“Succinct, accessible, and full of good examples of how mixed methods
for community research is actually done, Qualitative Research Methods for
Community Development is useful to all students who want to take on a project
that involves participatory research and/or civic engagement. With notes on
participatory action research and ethics, and a particular emphasis on writing
and presentations, community groups will also find the book helpful. A par-
ticular strength of the new edition is the added analysis of online tools, which
are becoming increasingly important.”
Louise Jezierski, associate professor of social relations and policy, and comparative
cultures and politics, James Madison College, Michigan State University
Qualitative Research Methods
for Community Development
Second Edition
Robert Mark Silverman and
Kelly L. Patterson
Cover image: Getty Images
First published 2022
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 Robert Mark Silverman and Kelly L. Patterson
The right of Robert Mark Silverman and Kelly L. Patterson to be
identified as authors of this work has been asserted in accordance
with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Silverman, Robert Mark, 1967- author. | Patterson,
Kelly L., author.
Title: Qualitative research methods for community development /
Robert Mark Silverman and Kelly L. Patterson.
Description: 2nd edition. | New York, NY: Routledge, 2022. |
Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Identifiers: LCCN 2021030491 (print) | LCCN 2021030492
(ebook) | ISBN 9781032001432 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032001418
(paperback) | ISBN 9781003172925 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Community development. | Qualitative research.
Classification: LCC HN49.C6 S55 2022 (print) | LCC HN49.C6
(ebook) | DDC 307.1/4—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021030491
LC ebook record available
ISBN: 978-1-032-00143-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-00141-8 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-17292-5 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003172925
Typeset in Bembo
by codeMantra
Elijah and Emalyn
Contents
List of Figures xi
Acknowledgments xiii
List of Abbreviations xv
1 Qualitative Research for Students and Professionals 1
2 Qualitative Analysis as an Iterative Process 24
3 An Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis Software 37
4 Field Notes and Observations 50
5 Semi-Structured Interviewing 68
6 Focus Groups 84
7 Online Qualitative Interviewing and Focus Groups 103
8 Content Analysis 112
9 Dissemination of Qualitative Findings 123
Index 141
