Series: a href="http://www.oupcanada.com/tcs/"Themes in Canadian Sociology/a Qualitative Research in Action emphasizes that dynamism and flexibility are the cornerstones of qualitative research. Bringing the stages of research to life with a wide array of examples drawn from actual studies, the text guides students through the processes of finding inspiration and developing questions; gathering, coding, and analyzing data; and writing up results. Note: Every chapter includes: - Learning Objectives - Introduction - Summary - Questions for Critical Thought - Exercises - In-Class Exercise - Suggested Readings - Related Websites 1. Introduction Qualitative Research About This Book 2. Asking Questions and Identifying Goals Underlying Assumptions The Research Process Generic Social Processes Research Questions 3. Strategies for Designing Research Origins of Qualitative Studies Where to Find Ideas for Research Topics How to Begin Your Own Study 4. Ethics on the Ground: A Moral Compass - Will C. van den Hoonaard Ethical Principles of Research in Canada Applying the Principles of Ethics to Qualitative Research Developing a Research Question Fieldwork Interviews and Transcriptions Content Analysis Analyzing Data Ethics in the Digital Age Writing Up Research 5. Observing Social Life through Field Research Historical Antecedents of Contemporary Field Work Conducting a Field Study 6. In-Depth Interviewing Standardized Interviews In-Depth Interviews Conducting an In-Depth Interview Study After the Interview Email Interviews 7. Unobtrusive Research Analyzing Pre-existing Documents Analyzing Documents of Social Institutions Analyzing Media Content and Reflections of Reality Analyzing Physical Objects 8. New Directions in Qualitative Research Discourse Analysis Narrative Analysis Autoethnography Ethnodramas Visual Sociology Virtual Ethnography 9. Trust the Process: Analyzing Qualitative Data Beginning with Memos Coding Interview Transcripts and Field Notes From Codes to Generic Social Processes 10. Writing Up Qualitative Research Getting Started Writing Your Report Matters of Style Cleaning It All Up A Word about Plagiarism Appendix A: Selected List of Qualitative Research by Canadian Scholars Appendix B: Sample Fieldnotes Appendix C: Checklist for Research Reports Glossary Endnotes References Index "I like that the author provides 'guidelines' for analyzing qualitative data that do not stifle creativity. I also like the author's philosophy that students must learn how to analyze data as a conceptual skill and not expect that some computer program can replace this skill." --Dawn Currie, University of British ColumbiaDr. Deborah van den Hoonaard is a professor of gerontology at St Thomas University and a Canada Research Chair in Qualitative Research and Analysis. She is also associate director of the Chronic Illness Research Institute, of which she is a founding member. An experienced researcher and writer, she is the author of two books based on her own qualitative research: The Widowed Self: The Older Woman's Journey through Widowhood (2001) and By Himself: The Older Man's Experience of Widowhood (2010). She has given many talks on qualitative methods in Canada, the United States, China, and Australia.