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A Qualitative Research Essay

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This review makes a point in favor of the assertion made for the book that it is a practical introduction to the qualitative research in applied linguistics. The book consists of four parts: an overview of qualitative research, qualitative research methods, qualitative data collection methods, ethical practice issues and the writing of research reports. After proving a rich introduction to the qualitative research, the book discusses qualitative research approaches using a reader-friendly and interactive structure: pre-reading and post-reading questions along with the list of further readings. Then the data collection tools have been thoroughly discussed. What makes this book more useful is the use of illustrative examples for each qualitative research approach and data collection tool. The last part discusses core issues of ethics and drafting a research report. From the perspective of a novice researcher, it has achieved the goal of educating readers about qualitative research met...

Crafting a research design is a daunting task no matter what research method the researcher chooses to work with. Qualitative research study stands as one of the most rigorous and demanding—yet rewarding—research paradigms when the researchers have a narrative, a story to portray in the literature-specific both for their readers and the scientific community. With the intent to describe not only their own personal journey, but also that of those who help unravel previously unexplained phenomena, qualitative researchers undertake a central theme and refer to the lived experiences of their study participants, starting from the data collection stage to analysis and interpretation of their findings. They ask the very fundamental question words (i.e., how, why, and what) with which the study builds up to a rather more profound level. With certain philosophical underpinnings, dimensions, and approaches, qualitative researchers find themselves engaged in a plethora of words, texts, and images (Creswell, 2007). Researchers’ ontological and epistemological positioning additionally informs their choices of methods and methodology, the latter which is a theoretical perspective acting as a bridge between the two (Creswell, 2007). Regarding this and other characteristics, it is also important to note that an impeccable qualitative study design cannot be achieved without researchers’ investing a long time and finances, the resources without which a seamless research study would not be produced. With the purpose of discussing such and several more distinctive characteristics, metaphors, various research paradigms, and considerations throughout, the purpose of this paper is to shed light to what a qualitative research study essentially is, how researchers deal with it throughout the research process, when it is appropriate to conduct one and when not, its advantages, disadvantages, and others. Each component that goes into the design of qualitative research study will be handled under close lens.

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An Introduction to Qualitative Research

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• Robert A. Croker 3  

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Qualitative research — when you first heard the term, your initial thought might have been, ‘What do qualitative researchers actually do?’ It may come as a surprise to you that you are already familiar with many of their activities, and you actually do them yourself — every day — as you watch and listen to what happens around you, and ask questions about what you have seen and heard.

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What is “Qualitative” in Qualitative Research? Why the Answer Does not Matter but the Question is Important

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What is qualitative in qualitative research.

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Robert A. Croker ( Associate Professor in the Faculty of Policy Studies )

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Juanita Heigham

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Robert A. Croker

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Croker, R.A. (2009). An Introduction to Qualitative Research. In: Heigham, J., Croker, R.A. (eds) Qualitative Research in Applied Linguistics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230239517_1

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230239517_1

Publisher Name : Palgrave Macmillan, London

Print ISBN : 978-0-230-21953-3

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