Introduction to qualitative methods in psychology

489 Pages·2010·3.92 MB·English

by  Dennis Howitt

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Dr Sonja J. Ellis, Sheffi eld Hallam University ic
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“Howitt writes with authority, skill and clarity on the key methods of qualitative data collection and i
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Professor Brendan Gough, Nottingham Trent University
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Introduction to Qualitative Methods in Psychology provides a comprehensive, clear, and practical introduction to
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this area of psychology, with coverage spanning from data collection and analysis to quality, ethics and writing up a
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qualitative research report.
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The theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of qualitative methodologies and the relationship between
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qualitative and quantitative methods are outlined to provide a clear framework for the text. After this, each

chapter adopts a common structure to explain what each method encompasses, how to use it, and when to use it. i
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Illustrative examples of research studies and advice boxes are provided throughout to help students develop a deep
and practical understanding.
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Dennis Howitt
Key features s
● Chapter overview and summaries provide a useful framework to help guide study and revision y
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● Illustrative research studies provide a picture of how the different methods have been used to answer real
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research questions
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● Key concepts outline important terms and ideas
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● Step-by-step practical advice offers guidance on a range of important questions o
● Each chapter ends with additional resources for further study including books, journal articles, and g
web pages as appropriate Introduction to
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● A comprehensive glossary provides help with key terms
Qualitative Methods
Go to www.pearsoned.co.uk/howitt to fi nd the book’s companion website, featuring a range of great resources to
help students consolidate their understanding of qualitative methods.
About the author D
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Dennis Howitt is Reader in Applied Psychology at Loughborough University.
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“Provides down-to-earth advice and balanced discussion of different methods. The insights on when the n
researcher should use a given analytic framework are especially useful.” i
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Dr Peter Musaeus, Aarhus University
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“...a well-written and informative book that will make it easier to grasp the fundamentals of qualitative “The most scholarly volume on qualitative methods I have encountered … rigorously
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methods in psychology.” researched, fascinatingly presented, and – most importantly – critically evaluated.”
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Dr Anita Gärling, Luleå University of Technology t
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Dr Tom Farsides, University of Sussex
Cover image © Marcel Steger/ Corbis www.pearson-books.com
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INTRODUCTION TO QUALITATIVE METHODS IN PSYCHOLOGY
Visit the Introduction toQualitative Methods in PsychologyCompanion Website
at www.pearsoned.co.uk/howittto find valuable studentlearning material
including:
(cid:122) Multiple choice questions to test your learning
(cid:122) Flashcards to test your understanding of key terms
(cid:122) Annotated links to relevant sites on the web
(cid:122) Essay questions to check your understanding at a deeper level

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INTRODUCTION TO
QUALITATIVE METHODS
IN PSYCHOLOGY
Dennis Howitt
Loughborough University

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Pearson Education Limited
Edinburgh Gate
Harlow
Essex CM20 2JE
England
and Associated Companies throughout the world
Visit us on the World Wide Web at:
www.pearsoned.co.uk
First published 2010
© Pearson Education Limited 2010
The right of Dennis Howitt to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
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All trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners. The use of any
trademark in this text does not vest in the author or publisher any trademark ownership
rights in such trademarks, nor does the use of such trademarks imply any affiliation with
or endorsement of this book by such owners.
ISBN: 978-0-13-206874-1
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Howitt, Dennis.
Introduction to qualitative methods in psychology / Dennis Howitt.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978–0–13–206874–1 (pbk.)
1. Psychology–Research. 2. Psychology–Research–Methodology. I. Title.
BF76.5.H694 2010
150.72′1–dc22 2009053356
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
14 13 12 11 10
Typeset in 10/12.5pt Sabon by 35
Printed by Ashford Colour Press Ltd, Gosport, UK
The publisher’s policy is to use paper manufactured from sustainable forests.
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BRIEF CONTENTS
Contents vii
Guided tour of the book xii
Preface xvii
Acknowledgements xxi
Part 1 Background to qualitative methods in psychology
1
1 What is qualitative research in psychology and was it really hidden? 5
2 How qualitative methods developed in psychology 28
Part 2 Qualitative data collection
55
3 Qualitative interviewing 57
4 Focus groups 89
5 Ethnography/participant observation 1 1 1
Part 3 Qualitative data analysis
135
6 Data transcription methods 139
7 Thematic analysis 163
8 Qualitative data analysis: Grounded theory development 187
9 Discourse analysis 215
10 Conversation analysis 244
11 Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) 271

12 Narrative analysis 296
Part 4 Planning and writing up qualitative research
321
13 Writing a qualitative report 325
14 Ensuring quality in qualitative research 357
15 Ethics and data management in qualitative research 383
Glossary 413
References 434
Name index 452
Subject index 457
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Supporting resources
Visit www.pearsoned.co.uk/howittto find valuable online resources
Companion Website for students
(cid:122) Multiple choice questions to test your learning
(cid:122) Flashcards to test your understanding of key terms
(cid:122) Annotated links to relevant sites on the web
(cid:122) Essay questions to check your understanding at a deeper level
For instructors
(cid:122) Downloadable Powerpoint slides of figures and tables from the book
Also:The Companion Website provides the following features:
(cid:122) Search tool to help locate specific items of content
(cid:122) E-mail results and profile tools to send results of quizzes to instructors
(cid:122) Online help and support to assist with website usage and troubleshooting
For more information please contact your local Pearson Education sales representative
or visit www.pearsoned.co.uk/howitt

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CONTENTS
Guided tour of the book xii
Preface xvii
Acknowledgements xxi
Part 1 Background to qualitative methods in psychology
1
1 What is qualitative research in psychology and was it really hidden? 5
Overview 5
What is qualitative research? 6
Science as normal practice in qualitative and quantitative research 10
The beginnings of modern psychology: introspectionism 13
The logical positivists, behaviourism and psychology 15
The quantitative dominance of mainstream psychology 18
Statistics and the quantitative ethos in psychology 22
Conclusion 25
Key points 27
Additional resources 27
2 How qualitative methods developed in psychology 28
Overview 28
Documenting the growth of qualitative methods in psychology 29
The main qualitative methods in psychology up to the 1950s 35
The radical innovations of 1950–1970 42
The recent history of qualitative psychology 49
Conclusion 51
Key points 53
Additional resources 54
Part 2 Qualitative data collection
55
3 Qualitative interviewing 57
Overview 57
What is qualitative interviewing? 58
The development of qualitative interviewing 62
How to conduct qualitative interviews 64
How to analyse a qualitative interview 81
When to use qualitative interviews 83
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viii CONTENTS
Evaluation of qualitative interviewing 85
Conclusion 87
Key points 88
Additional resources 88
4 Focus groups 89
Overview 89
What are focus groups? 90
The development of focus groups 92
How to conduct focus groups 94
How to analyse data from focus groups 105
When to use focus groups 107
Evaluation of focus groups 108
Conclusion 109
Key points 1 10
Additional resources 1 10
5 Ethnography/participant observation 1 1 1
Overview 1 1 1
What is ethnography/participant observation? 1 12
The development of ethnography/participant observation 1 16
How to conduct ethnography/participant observation 122
How to analyse ethnography/participant observation 127
When to use ethnography/participant observation 130
Evaluation of ethnography/participant observation 130
Conclusion 132
Key points 132
Additional resources 133
Part 3 Qualitative data analysis
135
6 Data transcription methods 139
Overview 139
What is transcription? 140
The development of transcription 149
How to do Jefferson transcription 150
When to use Jefferson transcription 157
Evaluation of Jefferson transcription 158
Conclusion 159
Key points 161
Additional resources 162
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CONTENTS ix
7 Thematic analysis 163
Overview 163
What is thematic analysis? 164
The development of thematic analysis 168
How to do thematic analysis 170
When to use thematic analysis 182
Evaluation of thematic analysis 183
Conclusion 184
Key points 185
Additional resources 186
8 Qualitative data analysis: Grounded theory development 187
Overview 187
What is grounded theory? 188
The development of grounded theory 192
How to do grounded theory 195
When to use grounded theory 207
Evaluation of grounded theory 208
Conclusion 213
Key points 214
Additional resources 214
9 Discourse analysis 215
Overview 215
What is discourse analysis? 216
The development of discourse analysis 222
How to do discourse analysis 226
When to use discourse analysis 239
Evaluation of disco urse analysis 240
Conclusion 242
Key points 242
Additional resources 243
10 Conversation analysis 244
Overview 244
What is conversation analysis? 245
The development of conversation analysis 253
How to do conversation analysis 255
When to use conversation analysis 267
Evaluation of conversation analysis 268
Conclusion 269
Key points 270
Additional resources 270
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