The Oxford Handbook of Qualitative Research presents a comprehensive overview of the field of qualitative research. It is intended for students of all levels, faculty, and researchers across the social sciences. The contributors represent some of the most influential and innovative researchers in the field as well as emerging scholars. This handbook provides a broad introduction to the field of qualitative research to those with little to no background in the subject, while simultaneously providing substantive contributions to the field that will be of interest to even the most experienced researchers. It serves as a user-friendly teaching tool suitable for a range of undergraduate or graduate courses, as well as individuals working on their thesis or other research projects. With a focus on methodological instruction, this volume offers both a retrospective and prospective view of the field. The first two sections explore the history of the field, ethics, and philosophical/theoretical approaches. The next three sections focus on the major methods of qualitative practice as well as newer approaches (such as arts-based research and internet research); area studies often excluded (such as museum studies and disaster studies); and mixed methods and participatory methods (such as community-based research). The next section covers key issues including data analysis, interpretation, writing and assessment. The final section offers a commentary about politics and research and the move towards public scholarship. Preface 1. Patricia Leavy: Introduction Part One: The Qualitative Tradition 2. Svend Brinkmann, Michael Hviid Jacobsen, and Soren Kristiansen: Historical Overview of Qualitative Research in the Social Sciences 3. Chares Demetriou and Victor Roudometof: The History of Historical-Comparative Methods in Sociology 4. Anna Traianou: The Centrality of Ethics in Qualitative Research Part Two: Approaches to Qualitative Research 5. Rene Spencer, Julia M. Pryce, and Jill Walsh: Philosophical Approaches to Qualitative Research 6. Salley E. Thorne: Applied Interpretive Approaches 7. Antony Bryant: The Grounded Theory Method 8. Maureen C. McHugh: Feminist Qualitative Research: Toward Transformation of Science and Society 9. Kum-Kum Bhavnani, Peter Chua, and Dana Collins: Critical Approaches to Qualitative Research 10. Mike Evans, Adrian Miller, Peter Hutchinson, and Carlene Dingwall: Decolonizing Research Practice: Indigenous Methodologies, Aboriginal Methods, and Knowledge/Knowing Part Three: Narrative Inquiry, Field Research, and Interview Methods 11. Arthur P. Bochner and Nicholas A. Riggs: Practicing Narrative Inquiry 12. Anthony Kwame Harrison: Ethnography 13. Carolyn Ellis and Tony E. Adams: The Purposes, Practices, and Principles of Autoethnographic Research 14. Svend Brinkmann: Unstructured and Semi-Structured Interviewing 15. Valerie J. Janesick: Oral History Interviewing: Issues and Possibilities 16. George Kamberelis and Greg Dimitriadis: Focus Group Research: Retrospect and Prospect 17. Erica L. Tucker: Museum Studies Part Four: Text, Arts-Based, and Internet Methods 18. Lindsay Prior: Content Analysis 19. Gunilla Holm: Photography as a Research Method 20. Gioia Chilton and Patricia Leavy: Arts-Based Research Practice: Merging Social Research and the Creative Arts 21. Claire Hewson: Qualitative Approaches in Internet-Mediated Research: Opportunities, Issues, Possibilities Part Five: Multi-Method, Mixed-Method, and Participatory Designs 22. Helen Simons: Case Study Research: In-Depth Understanding in Context 23. Paul R. Brandon and Anna L. Ah Sam: Program Evaluation 24. Margaret R. Boyd: Community-Based Research: Understanding the Principles, Practices, Challenges, and Rationale 25. Sarah M. Zeller-Berkman: Lineages: A Past, Present, and Future of Participatory Action Research 26. Brenda D. Phillips: Qualitative Disaster Research 27. R. Burke Johnson, Anthony J. Onwuegbuzie, Susan A. Tucker, and Marjorie L. Icenogle: Conducting Mixed Methods Research: Using Dialectical Pluralism and Social Psychological Strategies Part Six: Analysis, Interpretation, Representation, and Evaluation 28. Johnny Saldana: Coding and Analysis Strategies 29. Christina Silver and Ann F. Lewins: Computer-Assisted Analysis of Qualitative Research 30. Allen Trent and Jeasik Cho: Interpretation Strategies: Appropriate Concepts 31. Jane F. Gilgun: Writing Up Qualitative Research 32. Jeasik Cho and Allen Trent: Evaluating Qualitative Research Part Seven: Conclusion: Politics and the Public 33. Michael D. Giardina and Joshua I. Newman: The Politics of Research 34. Patricia Leavy: A Brief Statement on the Public and the Future of Qualitative Research Patricia Leavy, PhD, is a leading researcher, acclaimed author, and public speaker. She has published a dozen non-fiction books including the best-seller Method Meets Art: Arts-Based Research Practice, Essentials of Transdisciplinary Research: Using Problem-Centered Methodologies, Fiction as Research Practice and Oral History: Understanding Qualitative Research as well as two academic novels, American Circumstance and Low-Fat Love. She is the editor for four book series, is frequently called on by the media, has appeared on national television and radio, and is a blogger for The Huffington Post. The New England Sociological Association named Leavy the 2010 New England Sociologist of the Year and she has been nominated for a lifetime achievement award by the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry and a Special Achievement award by the American Creativity Association.