INF 5220 Qualitative Research Methods, Autumn 2004
Qualitative Research Methods, Graduate Seminar
Judith Gregory, judithg@ifi.uio.no
Jennifer Blechar, jennifjb@ifi.uio.no
Required textbooks -- available at Akademika and in IFI Bibliotek
Creswell, John W., 2003. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches,
2nd Edition. London: Sage.
Silverman, David, 2001. Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for Analysing Talk, Text and Interaction,
2nd Edition. London: Sage.
Also see the web page, “Qualitative Research in Information Systems,” edited by Michael Myers,
http://www.qual.auckland.ac.nz/ for links to further resources about particular qualitative research
methods, e.g. action research.
Highly recommended (additional textbooks for PhD researchers) – available at Akademika
Alvesson, Mats and Sköldberg, Kaj, 2002/2003. Reflexive Methodology: New Vistas for Qualitative
Research. London: Sage.
Coffey, Amanda and Atkinson, Paul, 1996. Making Sense of Qualitative Data: Complementary Research
Strategies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Myers, Michael D. and Avison, David E., eds., 2002. Qualitative Research in Information Systems: A
Reader. London: Sage.
Silverman, David, 2000. Doing Qualitative Research: A Qualitative Handbook. London: Sage.
Silverman, David (ed.), 2004. Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice, Second Edition.
London: Sage. (First published 1997)
Silverman, David, ed., 1997. Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice. London: Sage.
Overviews of qualitative research methods
Creswell, John W., 2003. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches,
2nd Edition. London: Sage.
Chapter 1: A framework for design.
Chapter 2: Review of the literature.
Chapter 3: Writing Strategies and Ethics Considerations.
Silverman, David, 2001. In: Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for Analysing Talk, Text and
Interaction, 2nd Edition. London: Sage.
Chapter 1: Beginning research.
Chapter 2: What is Qualitative Research?
Alvesson, Mats and Sköldberg, Kaj, 2002/2003. Data-Oriented Methods: Empirical techniques and
procedures. In: Reflexive Methodology: New Vistas for Qualitative Research. London: Sage, 12-51.
Denzin, Norman K. and Lincoln, Yvonna S. Introduction: Entering the Field of Qualitative Research. In: N.
K. Denzin and Y. Lincoln, eds., Handbook of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1-17.
Reason, Peter. 1994. Three approaches to participative inquiry. In: Denzin, N. K. and Lincoln, Y. S. (eds.),
Handbook of Qualitative Research, London: Sage. [overview]
Burgess, Robert G., 1991/1982. Multiple Strategies in Field Research. In: R. G. Burgess, ed., Field
Research: a Sourcebook and Field Manual. New York: Routledge/Routledge, Chapman and Hall, 163-167.
Other design-related approaches...
Beyer, Hugh and Holtzblatt, Karen, 1999. Contextual Design, Interactions. Jan.-Feb. 1999, 32-42.
Kluge, Anders. Field trial research in Human-Computer Interaction. Department of Informatics, UiO.
(electronic copy on course webpage)
Ethics as Relations in research
Buchanan, Elizabeth A. “Ethics, Qualitative Research, and Ethnography in Virtual Space,” Journal of
Information Ethics, Fall 2000, 82-87.
Raudonis, Barbara M. “Ethical Considerations in Qualitative Research with Hospice Patients,” Qualitative
Health Research, Vol. 2, No. 2, May 1992, pp. 238-249. (Ethics in research relations; informed consent in
practice.)
Silverman, David, 2000. Relations in the Field. In: Doing Qualitative Research: A Qualitative Handbook.
London: Sage, 197-208.
Bloor, Michael, 1997/1998. Addressing Social Problems through Qualitative Research. In: D. Silverman,
ed., Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice. London: Sage, 221-238 (substantive)
Wagner, Ina. “Ethical Issues of Information Technologies in Health Care.” To be published in Ch. de
Boeck, editor, Encyclopedie de Bioethique. Brussels, Belgium. n.d. (Substantive ethics in analysis,
electronic copy on course webpage)
Booth, W.C., Colomb, G.C. and Williams, J.M. “Pre-Drafting and Drafting” (Chapter 11) plus “Get
Complete Bibliographic Data” (excerpt). In The Craft of Research (pp. 166-174; pp. 76-80). Chicago, IL:
University of Chicago Press, 1995. (Ethics of writing: attribution and acknowledgement.)
Case Study Research Design
Walsham, Geoff, 2002. Interpretive Case Studies in IS Research: Nature and Method. In: M. D. Myers and
D. E. Avison, eds., Qualitative Research in Information Systems: A Reader. London: Sage, 101-113.
Yin, Robert K., 1994. Designing Case Studies. In: Case Study Research: Design and Methods, Second
Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA and London: Sage, 18-53.
Silverman, David, 2000. Selecting a Case. In: Doing Qualitative Research: A Qualitative Handbook.
London: Sage, 102-112. (Generalizability from Case Studies)
Benbaset, Izak, Goldstein, David K., and Mead, Melissa, 2002. The Case Research Strategy in Studies of
Information Systems. In: M. D. Myers and D. E. Avison, eds., Qualitative Research in Information
Systems: A Reader. London: Sage, 79-99.
See also: Yin, Robert K., 2003. Applications of Case Study Research, Second Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA
and London.
Action Research
Elden, Max and Chisholm, Rupert F., 1993. Emerging Varieties of Action Research: Introduction to the
Special Issue. Human Relations, 46(2), 121-142.
Elden, Max and Levin, Morten, 1991. Cogenerative Learning: Bringing Participation into Action Research.
In: W. F. Whyte, ed., Participatory Action Research. Newbury Park: Sage, 127-142.
Greenwood, Davydd J. and Levin, Morten, 1998. A History of Action Research. In: Introduction to Action
Research: Social Research for Social Change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 15-31.
Greenwood, Davydd J. and Levin, Morten, 1998. Action Research and Organizational Learning. In:
Introduction to Action Research: Social Research for Social Change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 187-202.
Avison, David, Lau, Francis, Myers, Michael and Nielsen, Peter Axel, 1999. “Action Research,”
Communications of the ACM, 42(1).
Baskerville, R. L. and Wood-Harper, A. T. 2002. A Critical Perspective on Action Research as a Method
for Information Systems Research. In: M. D. Meyers and D. Avison (eds.), Qualitative Research in
Information Systems: A Reader, 129-146. London: Sage. [reduces to a technical approach, some other
problems in that they do not know the Scandinavian & northern European traditions]
Engeström, Y., Virkunen, J., Helle, M., Pihlaja, J., and Poikela, R., 1996. "The Change Laboratory as a
Tool for Transforming Work," Journal of Lifelong Learning in Europe, 2:10-17.
Schön, D. A. and Argyris, C. 1991. Participatory Action research and action science compared: a
commentary. In: W. F. Whyte (ed.), Participatory Action Research, 85-96. Newbury Park, CA: sage.
See: Management Information Systems Quarterly (MISQ journal), special issue on Action Research
(includes ‘Networks of Action...’ article by Braa, Sahay and Monteiro).
In Action Research (new journal since 2004). See: www.sagepublications.com/ejournals.
Brydon-Miller, M., Greenwood, D. and Maguire, P. 2003. Why action research? Action Research, 1(1), 928.
Chu, Lai Fong. 2003. Transformational potential of focus group practice in participatory action research,
Action Research, 1(2), 165-183.
Pimbert, M. and Wakeford, T. 2003. Prajateerpu, power and knowledge: the politics of participatory action
research in development, Part 1. Context, process and safeguards, Action Research, 1(2), 184-208.
Wakeford, T. and Pimbert, M. 2004. Prajateerpu, power and knowledge in development, Part 2. Analysis,
reflections and implications, Action Research, 2(1), 25-46.
Methods in Qualitative Research: Observations; Interviews; Documents & Visual Images
Research Plans: Getting started; Access for field research
Whyte, William Foote, 1997. Gaining Access to the Field. In: Creative Problem Solving in the Field:
Reflections on a Career. Walnut Creek, CA and London: AltaMira Press/Sage.
Chapter 1: Gaining Access to the Field.
Chapter 2: Systematizing Participant Observation.
Chapter 3: Interviewing in the Field.
Chapter 4: Facts, Interpretations, and Ethics in Qualitative Inquiry
Observations
Adler, Patricia A. and Adler, Peter, 1994. Observational Techniques. In: N. K. Denzin and Y. Lincoln, eds.,
Handbook of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 377-392.
Silverman, David, 2001. Ethnography and Observation. In: Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for
Analysing Talk, Text and Interaction, 2nd Edition. London: Sage, 43-82.
Interviews
Fontana, Andrea and Frey, James H., 1994. Interviewing: The Art of Science. In: N. K. Denzin and Y.
Lincoln, eds., Handbook of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 361-376.
Hammersley, Martyn and Atkinson, Paul, 1995. Insider accounts: listening and asking questions. In:
Ethnography: Principles in Practice, Second Edition. London: Routledge, 124-156.
Patton, Michael Quinn, 1987. Depth Interviewing. In: How to Use Qualitative Methods in Evaluation.
Newbury Park: Sage, 108-143.
Holstein, James A. and Gubrium, Jaber F., 1997. Active Interviewing. In: D. Silverman, ed., Qualitative
Research: Theory, Method and Practice. London: Sage, 113-129.
Beyer, Hugh and Holtzblatt, Karen. “Contextual Inquiry in Practice.” Chapter 4 in Contextual Design:
Defining Customer-Centered Systems (pp. 67-78). San Francisco, CA: Morgan Kaufman Publishers, Inc.,
1998. (About interviewing.)
Documents, material artifacts; semiotics; visual images
Hodden, Ian, 1994. The Interpretation of Documents and Material Culture. In: N. K. Denzin and Y.
Lincoln, eds., Handbook of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 393-402. (Useful in relation
to fieldwork, for thinking about analyzing texts)
Atkinson, Paul and Coffey, Amanda, 1997. Analyzing Documentary Realities. In: D. Silverman, ed.,
Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice. London: Sage, 45-62.
Silverman, David. “Texts.” Chapter 5 in Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for Analysing Talk, Text
and Interaction, Second Edition (pp. 119-158). London: Sage Publications, 2001.
Manning, Peter K. and Cullum-Swan, Betsy. “Narrative, Content, and Semiotic Analysis.” Chapter 29 in
Norman K. Denzin and Yvonne Lincoln, editors, Handbook of Qualitative Research (pp. 463-477).
Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi: Sage Publications, 1994. Takes example of McDonald’s for semiotic
analysis (analysis of signs).
Silverman, David, 2001. Visual Images. In: Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for Analysing Talk,
Text and Interaction, 2nd Edition. London: Sage, 193-218.
Focus Groups
Barbour, Rosaline S. and Kitzinger, Jenny, eds., 1999/2001. Developing Focus Group Research: Politics,
Theory and Practice. London: Sage.
Puchta, Claudia and Potter, Jonathan, 2004. Focus Group Practice. London: Sage.
Survey Research Methods (see, for example...)
Buckingham, Alan. and Saunders, Peter, 2004. The Survey Methods Workbook. Cambridge: Polity.
Fowler, Floyd J., Jr., 2002. Survey Research Methods, Third Edition. Thousand Oaks and London: Sage,
Applied Social Research Methods Series, Volume 1.
Sieber, Sam D., 1991/1982. The Integration of Fieldwork and Survey Methods. In: R. G. Burgess, ed.,
Field Research: a Sourcebook and Field Manual. New York: Routledge/Routledge, Chapman and Hall,
176-188.
Getting organized: recording and organizing data
Hammersley, Martyn and Atkinson, Paul, 1995. Recording and organizing data. In: Field Research:
Strategies for a Natural Sociology. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, London and NY: Routledge, 175204. (Interviewing)
Silverman, David, 2000. Keeping a Record. In: Doing Qualitative Research: A Qualitative Handbook.
London: Sage, 191-196.
Preliminary analysis: memo writing; integrative mechanisms
Strauss, Anselm, 1987. Memos and memo writing. Qualitative Analysis for Social Scientists. Cambridge,
UK: Cambridge University Press, 119-129.
Strauss, Anselm, 1987. Integrative mechanisms: diagrams, memo sequences, writing. Qualitative Analysis
for Social Scientists. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 184-214.
Silverman, David, 2000. Developing Data Analysis. In: Doing Qualitative Research: A Qualitative
Handbook. London: Sage, 138-153. (A case study: observing heart clinics)
Silverman, David, 2001. The Potential of Qualitative Research: Eight Reminders. In: Interpreting
Qualitative Data: Methods for Analysing Talk, Text and Interaction, 2nd Edition. London: Sage, 285-302.
Analysis, Interpretation, and writing in qualitative research
Glaser, Barney G. and Strauss, Anselm L., 1967. The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for
Qualitative Research. New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
Chapter V: The Constant Comparative Method of Qualitative Analysis
Chapter VI: Clarifying and Assessing Comparative Studies
Chapter XI: Insight and Theory Development
Baszanger, Isabelle and Dodier, Nicolas, 1997. Ethnography: Relating the Part to the Whole. In: D.
Silverman, ed., Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice. London: Sage, 8-23.
Heritage, John, 1997. Conversational Analysis and Institutional Talk: Analyzing Data. In: D. Silverman,
ed., Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice. London: Sage, 161-183. (Analysis from meetings,
training, talk within organizations (audio or video recordings)
Miller, Jody and Glassner, Barry, 1997. The ‘Inside’ and the ‘Outside’: Finding Realities in Interviews. In:
D. Silverman, ed., Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice. London: Sage, 99-112.
Silverman, David, 2001. Texts. In: Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for Analysing Talk, Text and
Interaction, Second Edition. London: Sage, 119-158. (The handbook includes exercises and examples.)
Silverman, David, 2001. Naturally Occurring Talk. In: Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for
Analysing Talk, Text and Interaction, Second Edition. London: Sage, 159-192.
Van Maanen, John, 1988. Tales of the Field: On Writing Ethnography. Chicago and London: The
University of Chicago Press.
See also: Coffey, Amanda and Atkinson, Paul, 1996. Making Sense of Qualitative Data: Complementary
Research Strategies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Chapter 4: Meanings and Metaphors, 83-107.
Chapter 7: Complementary Strategies of Computer-Aided Analysis, 165-188.
Chapter 8: Coda, 189-194.
Conceptual & theoretical framing of research & data analysis (a few examples...)
See: Myers, Michael D. and Avison, David E., eds., 2002. Qualitative Research in Information Systems: A
Reader. London: Sage.
See: Pors, Jens Kaaber, Henriksen, Dixi, Winthereik, Brit Ross and Berg, Marc (eds.), 2002. Challenging
divisions: Exploring the intersections of ethnography and intervention in IS research (Special Issue on
Ethnography and Intervention), Scandinavian Journal of Information Systems, 14(2).
Bratteteig, T. and Gregory, J., 1999. Human Action in Context: A Discussion of Theories for
Understanding Use of IT. In: T. Käkölä (ed.), Proceedings of IRIS 22. Jyväskylä, FI: U. of Jyväskylä.
(electronic copy on course webpage
Gregory, Judith. “Activity Theory in a “Trading Zone” for Design Research and Practice.” In D. Durling,
D. and K. Friedman, editors, Proceedings of Doctoral Education in Design: Foundations for the Future,
International Conference, La Clusaz France 9-12 July 2000. Staffordshire, UK: Staffordshire University
Press, 2000. (Methodological principles.)
Orlikowski, Wanda J. and Baroudi, Jack J., 2002. Studying Information Technology in Organizations:
Approaches and Assumptions. In: M. D. Myers and D. E. Avison, eds., Qualitative Research in
Information Systems: A Reader. London: Sage, 51-77.
Theoretical Sensitivity and Reflexive interpretation
Alvesson, Mats and Sköldberg, Kaj, 2002/2003. On Reflexive Interpretation: The Play of Interpretive
Levels. In: Reflexive Methodology: New Vistas for Qualitative Research. London: Sage, 238-292.
Strauss, Anselm and Corbin, Juliet, 1990. Basics of Qualitative Research: Grounded Theory Procedures
and Techniques. Newbury Park, CA and London: Sage Publications.
 Theoretical Sensitivity, 41-47.
 Techniques for Enhancing Theoretical Sensitivity, 75-95.
 Theoretical Sampling, 176-193 (includes Definition of Terms).
Reliability and Validity
Silverman, David, 2001. Credible Qualitative Research. In: Interpreting Qualitative Data: Methods for
Analysing Talk, Text and Interaction, 2nd Edition. London: Sage, 219-257.
Perakyla, Anssi, 1997. Reliability and Validity in Research Based on Transcripts. In: D. Silverman, ed.,
Qualitative Research: Theory, Method and Practice. London: Sage, 201-220.
Zelditch, Morris, Jr., 1991/1982. Some Methodological Problems of Field Studies. In: R. G. Burgess, ed.,
Field Research: a Sourcebook and Field Manual. New York: Routledge/Routledge, Chapman and Hall,
163-167.
Writing, reporting and presenting
Strauss, Anselm, 1987. Reading and writing research publications. In: Qualitative Analysis for Social
Scientists. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 249-264.
Strauss, Anselm and Corbin, Juliet, 1998. Part III: Gaining Closure. In: Basics of Qualitative Research,
Second Edition. Thousand Oaks and London: Sage.
Chapter 15: Writing Theses and Monographs and Giving Talks about Research
Chapter 16: Criteria for Evaluation
Chapter 17: Student Questions and Answers to These
Yin, Robert K., 1994. Reporting Case Studies. In: Case Study Research: Design and Methods, Second
Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA and London: Sage, 144-166. See especially: What Makes an Exemplary Case
Study?, 160-166.
Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. C. and Williams, J. M., 1995. The Craft of Research. Chicago, IL: University of
Chicago Press. (reference text)
Writing research proposals
Creswell, John W., 2003. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches,
2nd Edition. London: Sage.
Chapter 4: The Introduction
Chapter 5: The Purpose Statement
Chapter 6: Research Questions and Hypotheses
Chapter 7: The Use of Theory
Chapter 8: Definitions, Limitations, and Significance
Silverman, David, 2000. Doing Qualitative Research: A Qualitative Handbook. London: Sage.
Chapter 4: What Counts as Originality?, 54-60.
Chapter 6: Theory in Qualitative Research, 75-87.
Chapter 7: Choosing a Methodology, 88-101. (A case study: HIV counseling)