Product Description

'The fourth edition of Uwe Flick's Introduction to Qualitative Research remains the most comprehensive and thorough text in qualitative research. It is student-and user-friendly, thoroughly up-to-date in terms of the latest developments in the field, imminently practical. it is the single most important introductory book on qualitative inquiry in the social sciences today' - Norman K. Denzin, University of Illinois

The new edition of Uwe Flick's bestselling textbook has been fully revised, expanded and updated. An Introduction to Qualitative Research guides the student step-by-step through the research process of qualitative research.

This classic text covers all of the main theoretical approaches to qualitative research, and provides unmatched coverage of the full range of different qualitative methods and approaches now available to researchers.

A range of new features have been added to the new edition including:

- New structure to better meet the needs of teaching qualitative research

- A new chapter on Grounded Theory plus updated coverage on the full range of other qualitative methods

- A summary section discussing the state-of-the-art in qualitative research

- A glossary

- Updated cases studies, exercises and guided questions

This new edition will continue to ensure that An Introduction to Qualitative Research remains an essential introductory text for all students of qualitative research.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #214076 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 528 pages

About the Author
All students of qualitative research.

Customer Reviews

Buy the 4th Edition - the 3rd edition is a heavy-going awkward book
The text below refers to the Third Edition, which I still maintain has many flaws. However, the New Fourth Edition is much more readable and useful, and so I felt it necessary to amend my review accordingly. I would give the Fourth Edition **** 4 Stars.

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I gave the 3rd edition ** 2 Stars.

This is a core text on one of my research masters courses but we loathe it. Recommended as the best overall in-depth guide to the variety of methods and techniques on the market, I can only say there is a gaping hole for a more readable text. The introductory chapters in particular are inaccessible: Flick is so keen to give a broad overview that I struggled to make sense of anything. It appears he translated the book himself from the German text and the clunky language, poor sentence-structure and multi-hyphenated-made-up-words make you wonder how it passed through any editorial stages.

My lecturer does agree that it is badly written, and has accepted my criticism of the text. He says the earlier editions were actually better. Skim-reading a lot there are some useful chapters later on in the book and this may be one to borrow from the library if you require in depth detail on a particular topic not covered by the more readable introductions to this field. I recommend buying one of them, not this one, though it may look impressive on a bibliography.

Authoritative text
This is an extremely thorough textbook. I like the fact that it covers theory and practice within a coherent overall conception of qualitative research. in particular, the case studies - which draw in part on the author'sown research projects - balance the more abstract passages and give a real inside view of what it's like to do research (much more than any of the simpler introductions I've read). I like too the suggested activities, which are for the most part very straightforward, and the suggestions for further reading, which are very detailed. Overall, I found this book synthesised a tremendous amount of information and argument and so does a lot of gard work on the reader's behalf.

A Matter of Style vs. Content
This book is well designed and laid out in an organised way. However, I found it very difficult to read. I'm not sure if it is the author or the translation but the writing style is very awkward. I had to read paragraphs several times before I could understand the point. Even then, I wasn't sure I had.

Overall, a frustrating book. It would probably be a great book with the help of a good editor.

It might just be me. After all it has gone to four editions.

John.