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Successful Qualitative Research
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Successful Qualitative Research
A Practical Guide for Beginners

First Edition
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March 2013 | 400 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
*Shortlisted for the BPS Book Award 2014 in the Textbook Category*

*Winner of the 2014 Distinguished Publication Award (DPA) from the Association for Women in  Psychology (AWP)*


Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners is an accessible, practical textbook. It sidesteps detailed theoretical discussion in favor of providing a comprehensive overview of strategic tips and skills for starting and completing successful qualitative research.

Uniquely, the authors provide a "patterns framework" to qualitative data analysis in this book, also known as "thematic analysis." The authors walk students through a basic thematic approach, and compare and contrast this with other approaches. This discussion of commonalities, explaining why and when each method should be used, and in the context of looking at patterns, will provide students with complete confidence for their qualitative research journey.

This textbook will be an essential textbook for undergraduates and postgraduates taking a course in qualitative research or using qualitative approaches in a research project.

 
Acknowledgements
 
PART ONE: Successfully Getting Started in Qualitative Research
 
Chapter One: Some Very Important Starting Information
 
Chapter Two: 10 Fundamentals of Qualitative Research
 
Chapter Three: Planning and Designing Qualitative Research
 
PART TWO: Sucessfully Collecting Qualitative Data
 
Chapter Four: Interactive Data Collection 1: Interviews
 
Chapter Five: Interactive Data Collection 2: Focus Groups
 
Chapter Six: Textual Data Collection: Surveys, Stories, Diaries and Secondary Sources
 
PART THREE: Successfully analysing Qualitative Data
 
Chapter Seven: Preparing Audio Data for Analysis: Transcription
 
Chapter Eight: Moving Towards Analysis
 
Chapter Nine: First Analytic Steps: Familiarization and Data Coding
 
Chapter Ten: Identifying Patterns across Data
 
Chapter Eleven: Analyzing and Interpreting Patterns Across Data
 
PART FOUR: Successfully Completing Qualitative Research
 
Chapter Twelve: Quality Criteria and Techniques for Qualitative Research
 
Chapter Thirteen: Writing and Communicating Qualitative Research

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'Like water wings for the qualitative research beginner, Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners gracefully supports methodological novices until they learn to swim elegantly, on their own, in qualitative waters… As a teacher, researcher or a student, you will want to thank the gifted methodologists Braun and Clarke for making it all seem so easy'
Michelle Fine
The City University of New York, NY, USA


'This is an admirably useful textbook that provides an uncommonly accessible, practical, and absorbing introduction for beginners to qualitative research'

Eva Magnusson
Umeå University, UMEÅ, Sweden


'A clear, engaging and intelligent qualitative research guide which will greatly appeal to students new to this area. The authors should be commended for their lively style and attention to often hidden processes and practices involved in successful qualitative research'
Brendan Gough
Leeds Metropolitan University


'This book provides an excellent introduction to qualitative research, combining in-depth explanation of the distinctive nature and goals of qualitative research methods with practical tips and helpful examples for beginners'

Lucy Yardley
University of Southampton


'Virginia Braun and Victoria Clarke present a clear and comprehensive road map for executing a successful qualitative study. They do so in a very engaging way that really brings the process to life for the reader. This book will be an essential read for anyone contemplating a qualitative research project'
Guy Faulkner
University of Toronto


'This practical guide refreshingly demystifies the qualitative research process, relentlessly pushing an agenda for uncomplicated but high standards across the board and generously enabling anyone, no matter how inexperienced, to get on with it and do it well. It is the kind of guide that not only says how to do it but that actually shows how to do it, with a myriad of real, reproduced examples, extremely useful tables, boxes, chapter summaries, questions for discussion, exercises and lists of resources including references to a companion website with even more guidance and examples.'

Edith Steffen
Counselling Psychology Review

Very easy to read and understand. Very good for beginners to qualitative research.

Ms Martina Kennedy
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems , University College Dublin
August 17, 2023

An excellent well-laid out textbook reference in research methodology, highly recommendable to students and lecturers.

Mrs Josephine D Morris
Interdiscipline, Winchester University
March 14, 2023

An excellent book that clearly outlines the principles of qualitative research. An essential read for undergraduate students interested in qualitative research.

Alison Owen
Faculty of Health and Sciences, Staffordshire University
October 13, 2022

Clear, to the point, relevant to today's world.

Dr Leslie-Jean Thornton
Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State Univ-downtown
December 21, 2022

Added to reading list

Dr Campbell Killick
School of Sociology and Applied Social S, Ulster University
March 30, 2022

This excellent book is just what our second-year Psychology students need to complete a really thorough Qual assignment.

Ms Rachel Lynn Phillips
Psychology, Nottingham Trent University
September 27, 2021

Written in an accessible style. Key aspects and concepts clearly explained. Vey good range of topics covered

Ms Geraldine McCusker
Sch of Health, Psychology & Soc Care, Manchester Metropolitan University
July 5, 2021

Excellent text, that students love and that covers all elements of qualitative research. An excellent guide for students starting out on qualitative research. Have now ordered the latest edition

Ms Noelle McAra
Division of Psychology, Abertay University
November 8, 2021

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1