Qualitative research and evaluation methods / by Michael Quinn Patton.

Rev. ed. of: Qualitative evaluation and research methods. 2nd ed. 1990.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Preface -- Part 1. Conceptual issues in qualitative inquiry. 1. The nature of qualitative inquiry -- 2. Strategic themes in qualitative inquiry -- 3. Variety in qualitative inquiry : theoretical orientations -- 4. Particularly appropriate qualitative applications -- Part 2. Qualitative designs and data collection. 5. Designing qualitative studies -- 6. Fieldwork strategies and observation methods -- 7. Qualitative interviewing -- Part 3. Analysis, interpretation and reporting. 8. Qualitative analysis and interpretation -- 9. Enhancing the quality and credibility of qualitative analysis -- References -- Author index -- Subject index -- About the author.

This book has been completely revised with hundreds of new examples and stories illuminating all aspects of qualitative inquiry. This third edition has retained and expanded upon the exhibits, which highlight and summarize major issues, guidelines, the summative sections, tables, and figures as well as the sage advice of the Sufi-Zen master, Halcolm. This revision will help readers integrate and make sense of the great volume of qualitative works published in the past decade. New to this edition: integrates and makes sense of the great volume of qualitative works published in the past decade; offers strategies for enhancing quality and credibility of qualitative findings by presenting a new framework for differentiating five contrasting and competing sets of standards for judging the quality and utility of findings; unravels the complexities of mixed methods and triangulation; explains the new issues and approaches to fieldwork as well as providing detailed analytical guidelines, including software and computer-assisted options; explores, compares and contrasts 16 different theoretical and philosophical approaches to qualitative inquiry; examines alternative interviewing strategies and approaches, including focus group interviews, group interviews, and cross-cultural interviews; identifies the latest Internet resources.