Second Blog Entry
Ten
credible sources that a student could reliably use in developing research
project with qualitative research design
The purpose of this blog is to identify and
list the sources that are relevant to developing research project with
qualitative research design. Furthermore a discussion on the summary of content
and the reason for their choice shall be provided for each of them.
Source 1
Mann, C. & Steward, F. 2000. Internet communication and qualitative
research: A handbook for researching
online. London, Calif: SAGE.
Content
summary:
The book is about doing qualitative
research on the internet. Mann and Steward introduces the audience at what they
termed for the purpose of their book, the computer mediated communication
(CMC). When one reads through the book will find out that the topics covered
are those topics covered by other authors in their books about doing
qualitative research. For an example, Winner and Dominick covered a topic on
conducting interviews which Mann and Steward covered in this book. The only
difference with this source is that, the nature of the research process is
intended for the online purposes only; that is, the book is focusing on the
research done on the internet and not out there in the natural field.
Why
choosing this source?
Taking into consideration the growing trend
of virtual world, technology is rapidly becoming a basic need for every human
being. This may be viewed in the light of the fast growing internet usages in
our everyday lives. Societies are exposed to the internet in all shapes of
their lives, through mobile phones, work computers, and personal computers to
name few. Given this account, it is very fair for one to conclude that; in the
near feature about most of the research activities may be conducted online.
This source is a credible handbook to provide a researcher with methods and
skills to employ when conducting data collection online for the purpose of
their studies.
Source 2
Silverman, D. 2004. Qualitative research: theory, method and practice. London, Calif,
ND: Sage
Content
summary:
Silverman provides a compilation of topic
relating to qualitative research by other leading researchers and scholars in
the field of qualitative research. The contents of this book cover more on the
methods of data collection and how to interpret it. Silverman provided
different methods a researcher may use to collect data such as; observation,
texts, visual data and talk. For every method, the contributing authors discuss
the method of analysis of each method respectively.
Why
choosing this source?
In order for enhancing my understanding in
analysing the data collected, this book serves a great importance for that
regard. Its content being a collection of the variety of qualitative
researchers (or writers in that field) gives it a more balanced form in terms
of accuracy. Since research itself is an open field, it is scientifically
correct for one to say this source is credible one given the various writers
who had contributed to its content.
Source 3
Silverman, D. 2013. Doing qualitative research. London. Calif: Sage
Content
summary:
The book is divided into six parts and
consists of a whopping 27 chapters. It begins with a chapter on how to use the
book and in part five of it touches on the chapter about getting support as a
junior researcher. Silverman emphasises the importance of the use of the
supervisor allocated to researchers when conducting a qualitative research.
However, apart from that; the methods of data collection and other steps
followed in a research process are discussed in detail. The book also touches
on how to write up the final research report. This book is relevant to the
current time setting, given its recent publishing.
Why
choosing this book?
I may argue that the content is in par with
the current dimensions in the research world. The examples provided are
practical and are directed to challenge the user directly. It is an interactive
source when one reads through its content. This is evident where the author
provides some valuable tips to the user about general technicalities to avoid
when doing research.
Source 4
Berger, A. 2011. Media and communication research methods: an introduction to
qualitative and quantitative methods.
London, Calif: Sage.
Content
summary:
Part one to three of these book
deals only with the qualitative research. The most important thing about this
book is the combination of discussions on both qualitative and qualitative
methods in the same book. However Berger explains this in one of the topics in
the book. A topic on textual analysis, which by this far proves to me to be a
centre of discussion when doing qualitative research in media studies is,
touched on.
Why
choosing this book?
The book is a credible source because it
deals with the qualitative methods aimed at media and communication research
specifically. This gives it a relevance to the field of media studies most
particularly, the research part of it. The book was not published long time
ago; it can still address the contemporary phenomena in the media research
field.
Source 5
Martin, NM. and Nakayama, T.K. 2007. Intercultural communication in contexts.
4th edition. Arizona: McGraw-Hill
Content summary:
This book attempts to address the
principles of intercultural communication as one reads through it. In the first
to the fourth chapter, a brief history in intercultural communication is dealt
with. The fifth to the seventh chapter touches on the intercultural
communication process. A reader is exposed to the practical phenomena where
intercultural communication takes place. Chapter eight to twelve takes a
discussion on the applications of intercultural communication.
Why choosing the book?
It came to my attention that; as researcher,
different cultural perspective shall overcome the studies that I will be
conducting. Since the qualitative research has field observations as one of its
data collection methods, one will have to understand the skills on how to
communicate with other cultural groups. This book equips the researcher with a
professional way of how to interact with other cultures. With the researcher
having read this book, it will be easier for them to conduct interviews with
any respondents they may be confronted with when doing the data collection for
their studies.
Source 6
Corbin, J. and Strauss, A. 2008.The basics of qualitative research. 3rd
edition. London, Calif. Sage
Content summary
The book deals with the basic guidelines
one has to follow when conducting a qualitative research. It first introduces
the reader to the practical considerations when doing the qualitative research.
The reader is given the brief practical examples to relate with in which a
perfect qualitative method fits. A chapter in ‘Introduction to Context, Process
and Theoretical Integration’ provides the user with a skill to integrate the
theoretical knowledge gained with the practical research process which is to be
undertaken when conducting a research in a real fife situation. Most
importantly, the book touches on a topic about ‘Strategies for Qualitative Data
Analysis’ which is the main concern when doing a qualitative research. A
comprehensive discussion, with examples, is covered in detail.
Why choosing this source?
This book, as one looks through its
content, is step-by-step manual which the user will not find difficult to use.
It touches on the basic concepts related with the qualitative research and more
importantly provides the examples of each concept discussed. The integration of
the theoretical knowledge gained when reading the book with the practical
situations gives this book relevance to be used when one is conducting a
qualitative research.
Source 7
Maxwell, AJ. 2013. Qualitative
research design: an interactive approach. London, Calif. Sage
Content summary
The book is talking to the user, to start
with. Methods that are important in the qualitative research design are covered
in the book. The book addresses the important points one has to ponder when
engaging with the qualitative research design. A topic on ‘validity: how might
you be wrong?’ in chapter 6 is an example of such points to ponder. Chapter 4
comprehensively details the different types of questions that are used in the
qualitative research design.
Why choosing the book?
The content of this book is designed in a
manner in which the user is being asked questions while the chapter content
addresses such questions. It may be put that; when one is being taught in an
interactive manner, it will be easy for one to understand the content with less
difficulties. The manner in which chapter is introduced in its heading is quite
important because it shows that a specific question shall be addressed.
Source 8
Merriam, BS. 2009. Qualitative research: a
guide to design and implementation. CA. Wiley
Content summary
The book starts with introducing what the
qualitative research is and provides its types. It tackles the procedure on how
to collect the qualitative data and furthermore provides the skills one may
employ when collecting such data. The
analysis methods and guidelines on how to interpret the data collected are
dealt with in more detail on the third part of the book. The ethical
considerations are also highlighted which are intended to remind the
user/researcher of their morally acceptable conduct when doing a qualitative
research design.
Why choosing the book?
This book is not over populated with
variety of complex topics. It is a specific to the point type of book. The
author deals only with the designing and the implementation process of
qualitative research. The user will be able to understand the content of the
book for a specific part of research process without having to worry about
other supporting topics.
Source 9
Yin, RK. 2011. Qualitative research from start to finish. NY: Guilford Press
Content summary
The types of approaches to the qualitative
research namely; the practical, inductive and adaptive approach are discussed.
The author attempted to provide the variety of topics that can be studied
through the qualitative research, unlike other forms of social science
research. The book focuses on the underlying technicalities of qualitative
research design which is evident where; the six general competencies,
transcending the needed technical skills to do qualitative research well. The
content covers the basic research process but goes on further to touch on the
topic about ‘taking the qualitative research one step further’.
Why choosing the book?
This book addresses the qualitative
research design process systematically and practically. It does not limit its
content only to the final steps of the process but goes on further to give the
user detailed guidelines on how to grow the research further. It is relevant to
the qualitative research design given its content which is also evident in most
of the books on qualitative research.
Source 10
Boeije, H. 2010. Analysis in qualitative research. London, Calif: Sage
Content summary
Data analysis is the most crucial phase in
the qualitative research design, one may argue. In this book Boeije carefully
focused on the analysis part of qualitative research design. However this does
not omit the discussions on the other steps of the qualitative research
process. The book gives a detailed discussion on the technical aspects of
analysing the qualitative research data such as the coding of data. Different
types of coding are discussed and examples are provided for the user’s
understanding. A topic on checklists for asserting the quality of the analysis
is covered.
Why choosing the book?The manner in which the author chose the practical examples to explain the theoretical concepts is comprehensive. The book gives a more in-depth discussion on the analysis part of the qualitative research data. It explains more technical terms with examples that are not complicated, one may put it. It is a perfect book for the user to consult when dealing with the data analysis part in the research process.
posted by Unknown @ 12:00
2 Comments
2 Comments:
Hello Simon, this is well written, I love how you structured your blog. Nothing close to the way I structured mine. it's amazing how we can learn from each other. How we can all be doing the same thing yet have different visions and ideals of presenting our work.
Thank you Elelwani, I was deeply fascinated by your blog post as well. I believe if we can communicate on regular basis, nothing will hinder our efforts to pass this course. It seems to me you are well informed about the media courses. Let us keep it worth studying for.
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