Qualitative Analysis for Social Scientists

Anselm L. Strauss (Author)

9780521338066, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 26 June 1987

336 pages, 22 b/w illus.
22.8 x 15.3 x 2.5 cm, 0.456 kg

"...one of the two best presently available sources for a systematic and detailed presentation of techniques qualitative researchers can use in analyzing their data." | Contemporary Psychology

The teaching of qualitative analysis in the social sciences is rarely undertaken in a structured way. This handbook is designed to remedy that and to present students and researchers with a systematic method for interpreting qualitative data', whether derived from interviews, field notes, or documentary materials. The special emphasis of the book is on how to develop theory through qualitative analysis. The reader is provided with the tools for doing qualitative analysis, such as codes, memos, memo sequences, theoretical sampling and comparative analysis, and diagrams, all of which are abundantly illustrated by actual examples drawn from the author's own varied qualitative research and research consultations, as well as from his research seminars. Many of the procedural discussions are concluded with rules of thumb that can usefully guide the researchers' analytic operations. The difficulties that beginners encounter when doing qualitative analysis and the kinds of persistent questions they raise are also discussed, as is the problem of how to integrate analyses. In addition, there is a chapter on the teaching of qualitative analysis and the giving of useful advice during research consultations, and there is a discussion of the preparation of material for publication. The book has been written not only for sociologists but for all researchers in the social sciences and in such fields as education, public health, nursing, and administration who employ qualitative methods in their work.

Preface
1. Introduction
2. Two illustrations
3. Codes and coding
4. Seminar on open coding
5. Memos and memo writing
6. Team meetings and graphic representations as memos
7. Excerpts that illustrate common problems
8. Integrative diagrams and integrative sessions
9. Integrative mechanisms: diagrams, memo sequences, writing
10. Presenting case materials: data and interpretations
11. Grounded formal theory: awareness contexts
12. Reading and writing research publications
13. Questions and answers
14. Research consultations and teaching: guidelines, strategies, and style
Epilogue
Appendix
References
Author index
Subject index.

Subject Areas: Sociology & anthropology [JH]