An introduction to qualitative research methods for undergraduate students who do not have experience with doing qualitative research. The book provides both a discussion of the theoretical underpinnings of qualitative research and practical advice to help students apply the methods described. The textbook begins by explaining the inductive approach used by qualitative researchers in their research, helping students learn how the questions they ask determine the answers they find. It also includes several chapters illustrating how to develop research questions and how to apply various methods of collecting data to address those questions. Using numerous examples drawn from researchers' actual strategies and experiences, Qualitative Research in Action includes discussions of observation, in-depth interviews, and analysis of pre-existing documents. The text completes its walkthrough of the research process by showing students how to analyze their data and write effective research reports. These chapters also include lively examples and many hints about how to go about these challenging processes. The text concludes with a chapter on new directions in qualitative research followed by a chapter that explores the ethical dimensions of doing this type of research.

Introduction -- Asking questions -- Strategies for designing research -- Observing social life through field research -- In-depth interviewing -- Unobtrusive research -- Trust the process: analyzing qualitative data -- Writing up qualitative research -- New directions in qualitative research -- Ethics on the ground: a moral compass while doing qualitative research / Will van den Hoonaard.