"Using sage advise and specific examples directly from his research methods courses and actual dissertation proposals, the author provides an easy-to-read guide to many of the design issues that often seem vague, mysterious, and daunting to novices when planning qualitative studies. Maxwell delivers on his promise to present "an approach to qualitative research design that both captures what qualitative researchers really do, and provides support and guidance for those embarking for the first time on designing a qualitative study". He creatively uses folktales, movie plots, real-life examples, and the personal stories of graduate students to bring out his and the students' passions for qualitative research." -- Karen Skibba 20060609 "Nice, easy to read, step by step process-oriented text for undergrads." -- Kim Powell "The practical checklists, exercises, stories and scripts, together with the analogies with quantitative research, are extremely useful in helping both graduate students and novice researchers conduct qualitative research. Experienced researcher, too, can find the book helpful, especially in writing proposals for funding." -- Marzieh Tafaghodtari Comparative Book Review 20100602