Qualitative Communication Research Methods

by Thomas R. Lindlof, Bryan C. Taylor

This book is the only guide to using qualitative methods in communication research. It introduces readers to every step of the qualitative research process, from developing research topics and questions, through to writing a final report. In addition to covering the theories and methods currently used in qualitative communication research, the authors also discusses important trends influencing the future of that research. Key features: Accessibility: Through a clearer and more direct writing style, and providing more examples and exercises, the authors have made book accessible to both undergraduate and graduate students Provides a guide to the current contexts of qualitative research: Addresses contemporary ethical, political, and practical issues students will face, including the influences of globalization on research; use of recording technology in fieldwork; the challenges and opportunities related to studying multi-media, on-line environments; and ongoing debates on the formats of qualitative writing Addresses contemporary ethical, political, and practical issues students will face, including the influences of globalization on research; use of recording technology in fieldwork; the challenges and opportunities related to studying multi-media, on-line environments; and ongoing debates on the formats of qualitative writing NEW Chapter 7 on analyzing material culture and documents: Together with updated discussions of participant-observation and interviewing, the book now provides integrated coverage on data-producing methods, showing how fieldwork methods can successfully combine Together with updated discussions of participant-observation and interviewing, the book now provides integrated coverage on data-producing methods, showing how fieldwork methods can successfully combine Addresses current technological developments: Shows students how new media such as e-mail, texting, cell phone video, and blogging not only form top

Genres: Grad School, Communication, Textbooks, Research Methods, Academic

400 pages, Paperback

First published September 6, 1994

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you are looking for a text book for Qualitative Communication Research, then this book is the one you want. It's pretty much the only book out there on the specific subject. But be warned, it's sooo dry. It does get a bit better as the book goes on, chapters one and two will put you to sleep but theres a lot of great information hidden in there if you look hard enough. If you are a student assigned to read this book for school, you will have to read this book very carefully. Main points and vocabulary words aren't bolded or highlighted in any way (unless you buy your book used and it's already highlighted by a previous scholar) so proceed with caution... if you want to survive in your class, you'll actually have to read this one folks.

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a useful handbook for anybody interested in qualitative research, but more than that it is a very useful guide for publishing that sort of work, complete with a helpful list of journals and a full chapter dedicated to exploring the politics and ins and outs of qualitative research in the academy. While there's plenty of fluff and erroneous content in the chapters themselves (like all textbooks), the core conceit and content is superb and helpful to anyone interested in knowing more about qualitative research, whether they're actively engaged in it or not.

[Kate]

this was required reading for SCOM 385: Qualitative Communication Research Methods

[Bucket · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lindlof and Taylor give a high-level introduction to communications theory and how it has developed over time, along with the states and development of its many subfields, and then dive into a somewhat more detailed look at the methods for conducting qualitative research in the communications field. These methods include ethnography, document/text analysis, interviews, and focus groups. The final portions of the book look at how to conduct data analysis (categorization and coding) and the report-writing process.

I found the first two chapters both high-level/lacking in detail and extraordinarily dense reading. While I see the importance of opening this book with some theoretical grounding, reading this information was almost useless, and only rendered useful to me by using it as a jumping off point to read much deeper about communications theory. I wouldn't recommend the chapters here as someone's first grounding in theory before taking on a qualitative research project!

The subsequent chapters, though, were very useful and full of specific examples to follow up on. The chapters on ethnography and interviews were particularly insightful. I thought the chapter on data analysis and interpretation could have been clearer with more concrete examples of what exactly identifying categories and codes entails - for me, real examples are part of how I learn.

I did find a little gem in that chapter though that helps explain the process, as well as the reason why conducting qualitative research in the first place is so attractive and important:

"The last couple of decades have seen advances in making qualitative analysis more explicit, trustworthy, and transparent. This in no way negates the role of serendipity in the process. A major strength of qualitative research remains its wonderful blend of strategic mindfulness and unexpected discovery."

Themes: communications, theory, qualitative research, interviews, writing, interpreting data, research methods, textbook

[Fereshte M · Rating 2 out of 5]

مرگ تدریجی رو با خوندن روش کیفی لیندلاف تجربه میکنم

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of helpful information in it, but I think that as far as qualitative books go I got more out of Cresswell's Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design.