Qualitative research in psychology : expanding perspectives in methodology and design

Perhaps one of the most striking features of this volume is that it is one of the first books on qualitative methods to be published by the American Psychological Association (АРА). Although other disciplines (i.e., anthropology, sociology, education, marketing, program evaluation) have vigorously incorporated qualitative methods for a number of years, most of academic psychology has had an ambivalent relationship with qualitative methods. Psychology's strong preference for quantitative approaches is reflected in undergraduate and graduate course requirements, the composition of journal editorial boards, and the АРА Publication Manual, which makes no mention of protocol for presenting qualitative findings. Although relatively iate in coming (particularly compared with the European psychological traditions), this book represents an important step toward the greater integration of qualitative methods into academic and applied psychology. This book brings together a diverse group of scholars who share valuable qualitative research techniques and rich case examples. Qualitative methodologies and the paradigms that guide them can be seen as both an alternative and a complementary approach to quantification and positivism in social, personality, developmental, health, clinical, counseling, community, and school psychology. Qualitative methodology seen as an alternative approach seeks to answer questions that cannot be answered through quantification, random sampling, probability testing, and other measures, which seek to control the environment of the participant. Viewed as a complementary approach to research, qualitative methodology can be utilized alongside quantitative methods, bringing a new depth and riches to data analysis. The wide variety of innovative techniques and theoretical perspectives offered in this volume will challenge readers to think about and expand on their understanding of qualitative research and its continually emerging applications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2004 APA, all rights reserved) Qualitative methodologies and the different paradigms which guide them can be seen as both an alternative and complementary approach to quantification and positivism in social, personality, developmental, health, clinical, couselling, community and school psychology. Qualitative methodology seen as an alternative approach seeks to answer questions that cannot be answered through quantification, random sampling, probability testing and other measures, which seek to control the environment of the participant. Viewed as a complementary approach to research, qualitative methodology can be utilized alongside quantitative methods, bringing a new depth and richness to data analysis. The variety of innovative techniques and theoretical perspectives offered in this volume should challenge readers to think about and expand on their understanding of qualitative research and its continually emerging applications "Qualitative Research in Psychology: Expanding Perspectives in Methodology and Design brings together a diverse group of scholars who share valuable qualitative research techniques and rich case examples. Qualitative methodologies and the paradigms that guide them can be seen as both an alternative and a complementary approach to quantification and positivism in social, personality, developmental, health, clinical, counseling, community, and school psychology. The wide variety of innovative techniques and theoretical perspectives offered in this volume will challenge readers to think about and expand on their understanding of qualitative research and its continually emerging applications."--Jacket.