A practical, step-by-step guide to your qualitative research project, featuring interactive Silverman workshops to help you to think critically about research and choose the best path for your project.

Part One: Introduction Chapter 1: How To Use This Book Chapter 2: What You Can (and Can’t) Do with Qualitative Research What is Qualitative Research? Why Do Some Researchers Prefer Qualitative Methods? Are Qualitative Methods Always Appropriate? Should You Use Qualitative Methods? Chapter 3: Focusing a Research Project Moira’s Research Diary Sally’s Research Diary Simon’s Research Diary Part Two: Starting Out and Project Foundations Chapter 4: Formulating a Research Question Challenges Solutions Some Cautions Chapter 5: Ethical Research The Standards of Ethical Research Why Ethics Matter for Your Research Ethical Guidelines in Practice Complex Ethical Issues Research Governance Conclusion: Managing Unfolding Ethical Demands Chapter 6: Research Design Interviews Ethnographies Texts The Internet Audio Data Visual Data Mixed Methods Chapter 7: Using Theories How Theoretical Models Shape Research The Different Languages of Qualitative Research Theories, Models and Hypotheses Examples Chapter 8: Choosing a Methodology Qualitative or Quantitative? Your Research Strategy Choosing a Methodology: A Case Study Naturally Occurring Data? Mixed Methods? Chapter 9: Writing a Research Proposal Aim for Crystal Clarity Plan Before You Write Be Persuasive Be Practical Make Broader Links A Caution: Misunderstanding Qualitative Research? Part Three: Getting Support Chapter 10: Making Good Use of Your Supervisor Supervision Horror Stories Student and Supervisor Expectations The Early Stages The Later Stages Standards of Good Practice Chapter 11: Getting Feedback Writing Speaking The Art of Presenting Research Feedback from the People You Study Part Four: Collecting and Analysing Data Chapter 12: How much data do you need? The Quantitative Model of Generalization How many interviews do you need? Purposive Sampling in interview research What is a case study? The Rationale of Case Study Design Case Study Research in Practice Theoretical sampling Chapter 13: Collecting Your Data Collecting Interview Data Collecting Focus Group Data Collecting Ethnographic Data Collecting Internet Data Collecting Your Data in the Wake of a Pandemic Chapter 14: Developing Data Analysis Kick-Starting Data Analysis A Case Study Interviews Fieldnotes Transcripts Visual Data Chapter 15: Using Qualitative Data Analysis Software: An Introduction What is Qualitative Data Analysis Software? Software for Qualitative Analysis? Great - so will it do analysis for me? OK, so how can this software help me? If I decide to use QDAS, do I have to use the program for all aspects of my analysis? You continue to mention writing - why is that so important? Will QDAS help my teamwork? Hopes and Fears connected to using QDAS What hardware do I need to run QDAS? What are some strategies for learning to use QDAS, and to see if a specific software will work for my project? Tips for doing analysis with QD Chapter 16: Quality in Qualitative Research Validity Reliability Chapter 17: Effective Qualitative Research Keep It Simple Do Not Assume That We Are Only Concerned with Subjective Experience Take Advantage of Using Qualitative Data Avoid Drowning in Data Avoid Journalism Part Five: Writing Up Your Research Chapter 18: What Counts as ‘Originality’? Originality Being a Professional Independent Critical Thought Chapter 19: Considering Your Audience The Policy-Making Audience The Practitioner Audience The Lay Audience Chapter 20: The First Few Pages The Title The Abstract Keywords The Table of Contents The Introduction Chapter 21: The Literature Review Chapter Recording Your Reading Writing Your Literature Review Practical Questions Principles Do You Need a Literature Review Chapter? Chapter 22: The Methodology Chapter What Should the Methodology Chapter Contain? A Natural History Chapter? Chapter 23: Writing Your Data Chapters The Macrostructure The Microstructure Tightening up Chapter 24: Your Concluding Chapter The Concluding Chapter as Mutual Stimulation What Exactly Should Your Concluding Chapter Contain? Confessions and Trumpets Theorizing as Thinking Through Data Writing for Audiences Why Your Concluding Chapter Can Be Fun Part Six: The Aftermath Chapter 25: Managing an Oral Examination Viva Horror Stories Preparing for Your Oral Doing the Oral Outcomes Revising Your Thesis after the Oral A Case Study Chapter 26: Getting Published The Backstage Politics of Publishing Strategic Choices What Journals are Looking For Reviewers’ Comments How to Write a Short Journal Article

There is no doubt that "Doing Qualitative Research" is a Bible for all qualitative researchers. Unlike the Bible, however, it is constantly updated, taking into account both new methods and new circumstances in which research takes place. A classic, but always relevant.