Doing Qualitative Research: A Practical Handbook

by David Silverman

Written in a lively, accessible style, this step-by-step guide provides answers to all the questions students ask when beginning their first research project. David Silverman demonstrates how to learn the craft of qualitative research by applying knowledge about different methodologies to actual data. He provides practical advice on key issues, such as: defining originality' and narrowing down a topic; keeping a research diary and writing a research report; and presenting research to different audiences. Packed with case studies and examples of students' experiences, the book has many features to aid study, including overviews, summaries of key skills and a glossary of terms. Each stage in the research process is grounded

Genres: Research, Research Methods, Nonfiction, Sociology, Reference, Science, Qualitative Research

336 pages, Paperback

First published November 3, 1999

About the author

David Silverman is Visiting Professor in the Business School, University of Technology, Sydney. He has lived in London for most of his life, where he attended Christ's College Finchley and did a BSc (Economics) at the London School of Economics in the 1960s. Afterwards, he went to the USA for graduate work, obtaining an MA in the Sociology Department, University of California, Los Angeles. He returned to LSE to write a PhD on organization theory. This was published as The Theory of Organizations in 1970.

He pioneered and taught MA in Qualitative Research at Goldsmiths in 1985. Since becoming Emeritus Professor in 1999, he has continued publishing methodology books.

His main teaching career was at Goldsmiths College. His three major research projects were on decision making in the Personnel Department of the Greater London Council (Organizational Work, written with Jill Jones, 1975), paediatric outpatient clinics (Communication and Medical Practice, 1987) and HIV-test counselling (Discourses of Counselling, 1997).

Reviews

[Said AlMaskery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but a little bit out of date.

[David Eastborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good practical guide for starting out with qualitative research

[Pang Khong Yun · Rating 5 out of 5]

A general guide for qualitative research, lack comprehensive in research design.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly readable guide for students on setting up a qualitative research project. Gives good, useful, practical advice while also helping to build an understanding of why things are so.

[Abrar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book for those who are using qualitative approach in their methodology.