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What is Qualitative Research?
Qualitative research uses its own distinct sets of research methods and sources of data in order to answer questions that would not otherwise be possible to answer.
Denzin and Lincoln provide a definition of qualitative research in the Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research (2011)
Qualitative research involves the studied use and collection of a variety of empirical materials—case study, personal experience, introspection, life story, interview, artifacts, and cultural texts and productions, along with observational, historical, interactional, and visual texts—that describe routine and problematic moments and meanings in individuals’ lives.
Learning Resources on Qualitative Research
- Sage Research Methods This link opens in a new windowOver 1000 books, reference books, journal articles and videos on all aspects of social science research methodology. Includes access to Sage Research Methods: Qualitative and Mixed Methods
- LinkedIn LearningProvides online tutorials free to U-M faculty, staff and students. Qualitative methods are included in courses like: Marketing Foundations: Qualitative Research, UX Research Methods, and Learning Design Research.
- CourseraCoursera offers online learning opportunities in qualitative research. Courses are offered at scheduled times throughout the year. Examples include Qualitative Research Methods (University of Amsterdam), Qualitative Research (University of California, Davis), and Qualitative Comparative Analysis (Erasmus University, Rotterdam). Most Coursera courses are free.
Books to Help you Get Started
Rocking Qualitative Social Science: An Irreverent Guide to Rigorous Research by ISBN: 1503628248Publication Date: 2021
Books on Qualitative Research Methods
To find the most recent qualitative methodology texts search the Library's Catalog using the following syntax:
subject:("qualitative research") AND subject:(method*)
You can further narrow the results by Format, Date of Publication, Availability, etc.
Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences by Call Number: Hatcher Graduate Library H 61 .B47151 2007ISBN: 0205482635Publication Date: 2006-03-01
The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods by ISBN: 9781412941631Publication Date: 2008-08-21
Qualitative Research and Intercultural Understanding by ISBN: 9781138080089Publication Date: 2017-10-03
