Qualitative Literacy
A Guide to Evaluating Ethnographic and Interview Research
Mario Luis Small author Jessica McCrory Calarco author
Format:Paperback
Publisher:University of California Press
Published:11th Oct '22
Should be back in stock very soon
This book offers criteria for evaluating qualitative research methods, highlighting their importance in studying various social issues. It equips researchers and practitioners with the tools to distinguish between sound and unsound studies.
Qualitative Literacy serves as a comprehensive guide for understanding and assessing qualitative research methods. The book addresses a critical question: how can one differentiate between high-quality, empirically sound qualitative studies and those that, while engaging and well-written, lack scientific rigor? Through a detailed exploration of various qualitative research methods, such as in-depth interviewing and participant observation, the author presents clear criteria for evaluating the quality of qualitative research.
Qualitative research plays a vital role in examining complex social issues, including inequality, poverty, education, public health, immigration, family dynamics, and criminal justice. Each year, numerous ethnographic and interview studies are published on these topics, but not all are created equal. Qualitative Literacy emphasizes the importance of distinguishing scientifically robust studies from those that may be more narrative-driven without solid empirical foundations. This distinction is essential for anyone engaged in social science research or policy-making, as the implications of relying on unsound studies can be significant.
The book is designed for a diverse audience, including social scientists, researchers, students, evaluators, policy makers, and journalists. By equipping readers with the necessary tools to critically evaluate field research, Qualitative Literacy aims to enhance the overall quality of qualitative research in the social sciences. Ultimately, the book fosters a deeper understanding of how qualitative methods can contribute meaningfully to the study of pressing societal issues.
"This book is a must-read for any researcher, even those who specialize in quantitative methods. . . .It aims to be a textbook but achieves much more." * EPIC - Ethnographic Praxis in Industry Community *
"Qualitative Literacy: A Guide to Evaluating Ethnographic and Interview Research is a wonderful book that should be required reading for all graduate students in Sociology; indeed, it is a useful guide for any social science discipline that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative training." * Social Forces *
"Qualitative Literacy… suggests a template through which scholars—building on extensive prior methodological research—might more holistically and collectively develop a framework to improve qualitative literacy across the social sciences."
* Administrative Science Quarterly *
ISBN: 9780520390669
Dimensions: 210mm x 140mm x 18mm
Weight: 272g
230 pages