Qualitative research & evaluation methods

Michael Quinn Patton

This book has been completely revised with hundreds of new examples and stories illuminating all aspects of qualitative inquiry. This third edition has retained and expanded upon the exhibits, which highlight and summarize major issues, guidelines, the summative sections, tables, and figures as well as the sage advice of the Sufi-Zen master, Halcolm. This revision will help readers integrate and make sense of the great volume of qualitative works published in the past decade. New to this edition: integrates and makes sense of the great volume of qualitative works published in the past decade; offers strategies for enhancing quality and credibility of qualitative findings by presenting a new framework for differentiating five contrasting and competing sets of standards for judging the quality and utility of findings; unravels the complexities of mixed methods and triangulation; explains the new issues and approaches to fieldwork as well as providing detailed analytical guidelines, including software and computer-assisted options; explores, compares and contrasts 16 different theoretical and philosophical approaches to qualitative inquiry; examines alternative interviewing strategies and approaches, including focus group interviews, group interviews, and cross-cultural interviews; identifies the latest Internet resources.