A practical introduction to the main theories and methods of qualitative research for the health sciences is offered in this book. It covers the full range of conventional and new qualitative methods including ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, biography, action research, historical research, discourse analysis and postmodern, poststructuralist and femininst approaches to research.

Carol Grbich shows that qualitative methods need to be followed just as rigorously as quantitative methods, providing examples drawn from various health fields.

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A practical introduction to the main theories and methods of qualitative research for the health sciences is offered in this book. It covers the full range of conventional and new qualitative methods including ethnography, phenomenology, grounded theory, biography, action research, historical research, discourse analysis and postmodern, poststructuralist and femininst approaches to research.

Preface
PART ONE: THEORY AND DESIGN
Qualitative Research
An Introduction
Theory in Research
Approaches to the Use of Theoretical Perspectives
Research Design Issues
PART TWO: TECHNIQUES OF DATA COLLECTION
Interviewing
Observation
PART THREE: METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES
Library-Based Methods
Field-Based Methods
Action-Based Methods
PART FOUR: INTERPRETATION, ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF DATA
Interpretation and Analysis
Computer-Assisted Analysis
Presentation of Data

Carol Grbich is in the Faculty of Health Sciences, The Flinders University of South Australia.