Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches (Third Edition) by John W. Creswell [Hardcover]

The five major qualitative traditions - biography, case study, ethnography, grounded theory, and phenomenology - are compared and contrasted in this text. As examples of the different research designs, five actual journal articles are reproduced in the appendix.

Biography is a qualitative research tradition that involves the in-depth study of an individual's life. Researchers employing this approach typically gather extensive information from various sources, such as personal documents, interviews, and observations, to construct a detailed narrative account of the subject's experiences, achievements, and the context in which they lived.

The case study approach, on the other hand, focuses on the intensive examination of a single case or a small number of cases. Researchers using this tradition aim to develop a thorough understanding of the complexities and unique characteristics of the case(s) under investigation, often drawing on multiple sources of data to provide a rich and contextual analysis.

Ethnography is a qualitative research tradition that involves the study of a cultural or social group in its natural setting. Ethnographers immerse themselves in the group's daily activities, customs, and interactions, with the goal of gaining an in-depth understanding of the group's beliefs, behaviors, and the meaning they ascribe to their experiences.

Grounded theory is a qualitative research tradition that emphasizes the development of theory grounded in data collected through systematic observations and interviews. Researchers using this approach aim to identify patterns and themes that emerge from the data, which are then used to construct a theoretical explanation of the phenomenon under study.

Finally, phenomenology is a qualitative research tradition that focuses on the study of lived experiences. Researchers using this approach seek to understand the meaning and essence of a particular experience as it is perceived and described by the individuals who have lived it, with the goal of uncovering the universal structures or essential features of the experience.

These five qualitative research traditions offer distinct approaches to investigating and understanding various aspects of the human experience. By examining the unique characteristics and applications of each tradition, researchers can select the most appropriate method to address their specific research questions and gain valuable insights into the social, cultural, and psychological phenomena they seek to explore.

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