This comprehensive introduction to Qualitative Methods in Psychology offers step by step practical advice and guidance on a range of important topics in this field. The qualitative researcher must learn how to collate data effectively in order to understand behaviour in a natural setting, how to understand an experience from the perspective of the research participant and also how to understand the meanings people give to their experience. Illustrative research studies throughout this book provide a picture of how different methods have been used to answer real research questions. Key concepts outline important terms and ideas; each chapter adopts a common structure to explain what each method encompasses, how to use it, and when to use it. Every chapter ends with recommended resources for further study including books, journal articles, and web pages as appropriate. Chapter overview and summaries provide a useful framework to help guide study and revision. The book is supported by a fantastic companion website www.pearsoned.co.uk/Howitt featuring a range of great resources to help students consolidate their understanding of qualitative methods. Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology will equip the researcher with the ability and knowledge to collate and analyse data, whilst taking into account ethical considerations, to enable them to write up their qualitative research report.

Table of Contents

Guided tour of the book Preface Acknowledgements Part 1 Background to qualitative methods in psychology 1 What is qualitative research in psychology and was it really hidden? 2 How qualitative methods developed in psychology Part 2 Qualitative data collection 3 Qualitative interviewing 4 Focus groups 5 Ethnography/participant observation Part 3 Qualitative data analysis 6 Data transcription methods 7 Thematic analysis 8 Qualitative data analysis: grounded theory development 9 Discourse analysis 10 Conversation analysis 11 Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) 12 Narrative analysis Part 4 Planning and writing up qualitative data research 13 Writing a qualitative report 14 Ensuring quality in qualitative research 15 Ethics and data management in qualitative research Glossary References Index