Issue 28(1)
Qualitative
Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing among five approaches.
(2007). John W.
Creswell. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. 416 pp., $59.95
(paperback). ISBN 9781412916073.
Review
by: Peggy M. Delmas
Director
of Student Advising
College
of Education
University
of South Alabama
Those exploring
the vast arena of qualitative research for the first time often
find that terminology and choice of methods can be confusing and
intimidating. Creswell does an excellent job categorizing the
various qualitative methods into five approaches: narrative research,
phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, and case study. In
keeping with his premise that the type of approach used by a researcher
shapes the study’s design and procedures, Creswell provides a
comparative analysis of the five approaches so that the researcher
can make an informed decision as to which approach is the most
appropriate for his or her study. This book is useful for advisors
who direct student research in social or human sciences as well
as for advisors interested in conducting their own research on
advising or other student-centered topics.
The
author has expanded on and updated the information he presented
in the first edition of the book (Creswell, 1998), including discussion
of the various schools of thought that have developed among qualitative
researchers since the mid 1990’s. Acknowledging the “increasing
fragmentation and diversity that now exists in qualitative research”
(p. 4), the author discusses alternative types of procedures that
exist for each of the five approaches. In addition, attention
is paid to qualitative researchers who have published groundbreaking
or seminal studies using one of the five approaches discussed
in the book.
The
most useful feature of this book is the appendices where studies
serve as an example of each type of qualitative approach. Readers
are enlightened by how researchers have used the five approaches
to shape their studies. These examples help readers move beyond
mere discussion of qualitative research to understanding what
components make up a well-designed narrative study or phenomenological
study. Of particular benefit is a chapter devoted to philosophical,
paradigm, and interpretive frameworks; those sets of beliefs which
further help shape a study. Creswell’s clear explanation of these
concepts and their importance in a research design helps the researcher
know how to situate him- or herself within the context of the
study.
With
the increased interest in and acceptance of qualitative research,
particularly in the social, behavioral, and health sciences, researchers
need a solid understanding of the various approaches available
under the umbrella of qualitative research. This text exposes
the reader to the five qualitative research approaches and provides
discussion on the strengths of each in relation to the type of
research being conducted, without overwhelming the reader. Qualitative
Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing among five approaches
is a highly informative book; researchers will likely return
again and again to the book as they expand their comfort zone
within qualitative research.
Reference
Creswell,
J.W. (1998). Qualitative Inquiry
& Research Design: Choosing among five approaches (first edition).
Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage.
