Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design

In the Fifth Edition of the bestselling text Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches John W. Creswell and Cheryl N. Poth guide researchers in exploring, evaluating, and applying five qualitative research approaches: narrative research, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, and case study.  For each of the five qualitative inquiry traditions, the authors explore the philosophical underpinnings, history, defining features, common data procedures and writing structures. The book introduces the philosophical and interpretive frameworks that shape qualitative research, embedding essential discussions about ethical considerations throughout, so that readers get a holistic picture of qualitative research. In one chapter, a single study illustrates applying each of the five approaches to the same research problem. The authors compare approaches across the qualitative research process in a highly accessible manner that shows readers the many options for conducting research. Featuring comprehensive content, new articles, revamped exercises, updated references, and following the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association throughout, the Fifth Edition is an ideal introduction to the theories, strategies, and practices of qualitative inquiry. 

Winner of the 2018 Textbook & Academic Authors Association's The McGuffey Longevity Award

Learn more about John W. Creswell's qualitative research and mixed methods research titles 

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5th Edition is anticipated for release in January 2024!

Chapters

1. Introduction

• Purpose and Rationale for the Book 

• What Is New in This Edition 

• Positioning Ourselves 

• Definition of Qualitative Research 

• Selection of the Five Approaches 

• Key Book Readings 

• Audience 

• Organization 

2. Philosophical Assumptions and Interpretive Frameworks

• Questions for Discussion 

• Situating Philosophy and Interpretive Frameworks Within the Research Process 

• Philosophical Assumptions 

• Interpretive Frameworks 

• The Practice of Using Interpretive Frameworks in Qualitative Research 

• Linking Philosophy and Interpretive Frameworks in Qualitative Research 

• Chapter Check-In 

• Summary 

• Further Readings 

3. Designing a Qualitative Study

• Questions for Discussion 

• The Characteristics of Qualitative Research 

• When to Use Qualitative Research 

• What a Qualitative Study Requires From Us 

• The Features of a “Good” Qualitative Study 

• The Process of Designing a Qualitative Study 

• Ethics in Qualitative Research 

• The Design Structures of a Plan or Proposal 

• Chapter Check-In 

• Summary 

• Further Readings 

4. Five Qualitative Approaches to Inquiry

• Questions for Discussion 

• Deciding Among the Five Approaches 

• Narrative Research 

• Phenomenological Research 

• Grounded Theory Research 

• Ethnographic Research 

• Case Study Research 

• Comparing the Five Approaches 

• Chapter Check-In 

• Summary 

• Further Readings 

5. Five Different Qualitative Studies

• Questions for Discussion 

• A Narrative Study (Chan, 2010; see Appendix B) 

• A Phenomenological Study (Anderson & Spencer, 2002; see Appendix C) 

• A Grounded Theory Study (Harley et al., 2009; see Appendix D) 

• An Ethnographic Study (Mac an Ghaill & Haywood, 2015; see Appendix E) 

• A Case Study (Frelin, 2015; see Appendix F) 

• Differences Among the Approaches 

• Chapter Check-In 

• Summary 

• Further Readings 

6. Introducing and Focusing the Study

• Questions for Discussion 

• Interrelating the Study Problem, Purpose, and Questions Within Research 

• The Research Problem Statement 

• The Purpose Statement 

• The Research Questions 

• Chapter Check-In 

• Summary 

• Further Readings 

7. Data Collection

• Questions for Discussion 

• The Data Collection Circle 

• Five Approaches Compared 

• Chapter Check-In 

• Summary 

• Further Readings 

8. Data Analysis and Representation

• Questions for Discussion 

• Ethical Considerations for Data Analysis 

• Three Analysis Strategies 

• The Data Analysis Spiral 

• Analysis Within Approaches to Inquiry 

• Comparing the Five Approaches 

• Computer Use in Qualitative Data Analysis 

• Chapter Check-In 

• Summary 

• Further Readings  

9. Writing a Qualitative Study

• Questions for Discussion 

• Ethical Considerations for Writing 

• Several Writing Strategies 

• Overall and Embedded Writing Strategies 

• A Comparison of Writing Structures Across Approaches 

• Chapter Check-In 

• Summary 

• Further Readings  

10. Standards of Validation and Evaluation

• Questions for Discussion 

• Validation and Reliability in Qualitative Research 

• Evaluation Criteria 

• Comparing the Evaluation Standards of the Five Approaches 

• Chapter Check-In 

• Summary 

• Further Readings 

11. “Turning the Story” and Conclusion

• Turning the Story 

• A Case Study: “Campus Response to a Student Gunman” 

• A Case Study 

• A Narrative Study 

• A Phenomenology 

• A Grounded Theory Study 

• An Ethnography 

• Conclusion 

• Chapter Check-In 

Appendix A. An Annotated Glossary of Terms

Appendix B. A Narrative Research Study—“Living in the Space Between Participant and Researcher as a Narrative Inquirer: Examining Ethnic Identity of Chinese Canadian Students as Conflicting Stories to Live By”

Appendix C. A Phenomenological Study—“Cognitive Representations of AIDS” 

Appendix D. A Grounded Theory Study—“Developing Long-Term Physical Activity Participation: A Grounded Theory Study With African American Women” 

Appendix E. An Ethnography—“British-Born Pakistani and Bangladeshi Young Men: Exploring Unstable Concepts of Muslim, Islamophobia and Racialization” 

Appendix F. A Case Study—“Relational Underpinnings and Professionality—A Case Study of a Teacher’s Practices Involving Students With Experiences of School Failure”

Reviews

“The Fourth Edition of Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design is refreshingly readable and will be accessible to students of all levels. This is a great text on the subject. Kudos to the authors!"

Charles Quist-Adade

Kwantlen Polytechnic University

“In my teaching experience, I have found this to be the best text for teaching an introductory course in qualitative research, as it demonstrates in a clear and systematic manner how qualitative research can be undertaken in the five most popular approaches in contemporary applied social science research.”

William Donlan

Portland State University

“I have been using Creswell’s text since I studied the first edition as a student myself, and every edition has been a notable improvement on what was already an excellent book. I have yet to see another book that packs in as much vital information with such clarity and friendly writing.”

Grant Kien

California State University, East Bay

“Creswell and Poth’s newly revised edition of Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design represents an accessible yet in-depth resource for developing an understanding of both the main approaches to qualitative research in the social sciences, as well as the wide variation across and beyond these approaches.”

Kai A. Schafft

Penn State University

“Creswell and Poth bring clear guidelines to the area of qualitative research – an excellent resource for building the framework for a successful qualitative study.”

Roy Roehl

University of Alaska Fairbanks