Doing Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Action-Oriented Inquiry

SECTION 1 Foundations of Qualitative Research 
Chapter 1 What is Qualitative Research (Really)? 
Breaking the Mold: Moving Beyond “Core” Approaches 
Quantitative versus Qualitative: Two Different Beasts 
What Is Qualitative Research? 
Why Qualitative Research? When to Use It (and When Not To) 
Common Myths and Misconceptions 
The Spectrum of Qualitative Traditions 

Chapter 2 Philosophical Foundations and Research Paradigms 
Understanding Ontology and Epistemology Research Paradigms: Your Philosophical Home Base Paradigms, Theories, and Methods . . . Oh My! 
Research Design with Paradigms in Mind 
Paradigms in Practice 

Chapter 3 Five Approaches to Qualitative Inquiry 
Narrative Research 
Phenomenology 
Grounded Theory 
Ethnography 
Case Study 
Comparative Chart: Five Approaches to Qualitative Inquiry 
Choosing the Right Approach 

SECTION 2 Designing Your Study  
Chapter 4 Designing Your Study 
From Curiosity to Inquiry 
Types of Research Questions in Qualitative Inquiry 
Aligning Research Questions with Paradigms and Approaches 
Designing for Flexibility 
Defining Scope and Feasibility 
Planning Logistics 
Sample Qualitative Project Timeline (6 Months) 
Mapping Your Qualitative Design 

Chapter 5 Researcher Positionality and Ethics 
Understanding Positionality 
Positionality and Reflexivity 
Insider/Outsider Dynamics 
Insider–Outsider Roles in Practice: Vignettes  and Composite Personas 
Power Dynamics in Qualitative Research 
Ethical Considerations in Qualitative Research 
Beyond the IRB: Everyday Ethics in Action 
Trust, Consent, and Accountability 
Rethinking Ethics in Practice 

Chapter 6 Mixed Methods Research: Blending Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches 
What Is Mixed Methods Research? 
Common Mixed Methods Designs 
Strategies for Integration 
Epistemological and Practical Tensions 
Ethical Considerations in Mixed Methods Research 
Real-World Examples and Lessons from the Field 

SECTION 3 Methods In Action—How Research Really Happens 
Chapter 7 Interviews (More Than Just Asking Questions) 
Types of Interviews 
Focus Groups: Listening to Meaning-Making in Community 
Focus Group Facilitation: Troubleshooting Tips 
Designing Interview Protocols 
Rapport and Relational Ethics 
Recording and Transcription 
Processing Interview Data 
Troubleshooting Common Interview Challenges 

Chapter 8 Observations (Watching, Listening, and Documenting) 
Types of Observation 
Preparing for Fieldwork 
Field Notes That Matter 
Reflexivity in the Field 
Strategies for Long-Term Observation 

Chapter 9 Documents, Media, and Digital Data 
Types of Non-interview Data 
Open-Ended Surveys as Qualitative Data 
Finding and Curating Data 
Ethics of Using Public Data 
Analyzing Media and Digital Artifacts 

SECTION 4 Participatory and Action-Oriented Research Methods  
Chapter 10 Participatory Action Research—Research With, Not On, People 
Origins and Foundations of PAR 
Key Tenets of PAR 
Core Principles of PAR: Participation, Reflection, Action 
Co-Researcher Relationships: Rethinking Expertise 
Balancing Rigor and Relevance 
Action in PAR: Defining and Practicing Change 
Theories of Action in Participatory Research 
Credibility, Trust, and Ethical Accountability in PAR 
Participatory Methods in Practice 

Chapter 11 Community-Based Research and Decolonizing Methods 
What Counts as Knowledge? 
What Can Participatory Methods Be Used For? 
How Participatory Methods Are Used  
A Spectrum of Participation 
Building Equitable Partnerships 
Honoring Community Timelines and Priorities 
Example: Group-Level Assessment 
What Is GLA? 
Why Use GLA? 
Ethical Foundations and Design Considerations 
Example: Future Creating Workshop (FCW) 
What Is a Future Creating Workshop? 
Why Use FCW? 
Integrating Fishbone Diagrams into FCW 
Ethical Foundations and Design Considerations 

Chapter 12 Participatory Arts-Based Methods 
Why Use Arts-Based Approaches? 
Forms of Arts-Based Inquiry 
Example: Photovoice 
Applications Across Contexts 
Ethical and Design Considerations 
Design Considerations 
Example: Collage Inquiry 
Why Use Collage in Participatory Research? 
Collage in Action: Process and Practice 
Conducting Arts-Based Research 

SECTION 5 Making Sense of Your Data 
Chapter 13 Analyzing Qualitative Data—From Chaos to Patterns 
What Is a Code in Qualitative Analysis? 
Effective Qualitative Coding 
Inductive Versus Deductive Analysis 
Creating and Refining a Codebook 
From Data to Theory: The Arc of Qualitative Analysis 
Memoing and Reflexive Writing Trustworthiness and Rigor 
Qualitative Data Analysis Tips 
Ethical Considerations 
Tools for Qualitative Analysis 

Chapter 14 Thematic Analysis and Other Analytic Approaches 
Thematic Analysis (Identifying Patterns or Themes) 
Content Analysis (Categorizing Textual/Visual Data) 
Narrative Analysis (Examining Stories for Structure and Meaning) 
Grounded Theory (Building Theory From Data) 
Discourse Analysis (Exploring Language and Power Dynamics) 
Framework Analysis (Using Predefined Frameworks) 
Consensual Qualitative Research 
Listening Guide (Attending to Voice and Emotion) 
Practice Exercises 
Listening Guide: Themes and Subthemes 

Chapter 15 Participatory Approaches to Analysis 
What It Means to Share Analytic Power 
Co-coding and Group Analysis 
Collaborative Analysis in Consensual Qualitative Research 
Dialogic and Embodied Practices 
Creative and Artistic Approaches 
Constructing Composite Personas 
Writing With Participants 
Ethical and Practical Considerations 

SECTION 6 Writing and Sharing Your Findings 
Chapter 16 Writing Qualitative Research That People Want to Read 
Telling a Compelling Story With Your Data 
Writing with Voice, Clarity, and Integrity 
Avoiding Extractive or Exploitative Storytelling 
Common Pitfalls in Qualitative Writing (and How to Avoid Them) 
Writing as an Iterative Process 
Feedback Loops: Letting Others In 

Chapter 17 Sharing and Using Research in Academia and Beyond 
Why Dissemination Matters 
Publishing Academic Articles 
From Outline to Article: Drafting with Purpose 
Dissemination Beyond Academia: Community Reports, Zines, Blogs, Podcasts, and Infographics 
Tailoring Your Message to Different Audiences 
Accessibility, Plain Language, and Visual Storytelling 

Chapter 18 Sustaining Yourself and Your Research 
SMART Goals for Writing 
Examples of SMART goals: 
Time Management Techniques 
Writing Accountability 
Research as Action: Turning Findings Into Change 
Coping With Emotional Labor and Burnout 
Navigating Feedback, Rejection, and Academic Gatekeeping 
Lifelong Learning and Evolving Your Research Identity 
Managing Intellectual Overflow 
Sustaining Your Work in a World That Doesn’t Always Value It

SECTION 7 Future Directions in Qualitative Research  
Chapter 19 Doing Qualitative Research in Digital Spaces 
Strategies for Digital Qualitative Research 
Strategies for Digital Participatory Research 
Researching Social Media and Online Communities 
Ethical Considerations and Digital Consent 
Building Relationships and Rapport Virtually 
Reflexivity in Remote Research 
Digital Doesn’t Mean Detached 

Chapter 20 Artificial Intelligence and Qualitative Inquiry 
What AI Can (and Can’t) Do in Qualitative Work 
Bias, Automation, and Epistemic Violence 
Ethical Use of Generative AI in Writing and Analysis  
Navigating Transparency and Authorship With AI Tools 
Use with Care, Stay with the Questions 

Chapter 21 The Future Is Participatory—Reclaiming the Purpose of  Research  
Reframing Research as Action and Accountability  
Community-Led Inquiry and Grassroots Knowledge 
Navigating Institutional Barriers to Equity-Centered Research  
Sustaining Slow, Relational, Liberatory Work  
Imagining Radical Possibilities for the Next  Generation of Researchers 
Final Thoughts: Carry It Forward