Tips on transcribing qualitative interviews and naturally-occurring interaction

After interviews have been conducted or events have been recorded, the task of transcription begins. For those who have not transcribed before, it is easy to under-estimate the amount of time needed to transcribe interviews and interaction. What does transcription entail? In my experience, it takes at least an hour to transcribe every 15 minutes … Continue reading Tips on transcribing qualitative interviews and naturally-occurring interaction

What I learned about qualitative research from learning how to weave

Sometimes, learning a new skill can illuminate central issues to do with what is already known. Over the last two years, I have been learning how to weave. This was something I have wanted to do for a long time, so I was really excited as a beginner. I started with some basics.  Different tools … Continue reading What I learned about qualitative research from learning how to weave

2016 Holiday Gift Guide for Qualitative Researchers

It is that season of the year when you may be thinking about gifts for your nearest and dearest qualitative researchers. Here are some ideas for gift-giving. And please share your ideas in the comment box below. Getting organized For the qualitative researcher who relies on digital tools, some organizational help for all those cords … Continue reading 2016 Holiday Gift Guide for Qualitative Researchers

Common failings in first (and sometimes later) drafts

Sometimes you come across some good advice that stands the test of time. Such is the case of a chapter I came across many years ago written by British educational researcher, Peter Woods. In this chapter, Woods (1985) talks about the “false solutions” that we sometimes use to counter the pain of writing up our … Continue reading Common failings in first (and sometimes later) drafts

Tips on conducting qualitative interviews

The ubiquity of the “interview” in contemporary society can mask what Harold Garfinkel (1967) termed the “seen-but-unnoticed” work that goes into everyday activity. For researchers, an important routine activity is the conduct of a “good” interview. In qualitative research, interviewing is one of the most popular and widely-used methods to generate data. For novices to … Continue reading Tips on conducting qualitative interviews

Tips for getting started (and finishing) a new writing project

So you have a new writing project that you need to complete. While you have the assigned topic, you just can’t seem to get started.  This is certainly something I encounter. After I have completed any combination of the following procrastinatory activities: Get my favorite beverage accompanied by a snack; Tidy my desk-top and office … Continue reading Tips for getting started (and finishing) a new writing project

Useful texts on reading and writing

There is a huge array of literature on both reading and writing. Rather than provide pages of references, here are some texts that I’ve found helpful. Writing literature reviews Boote, D. N., & Beile, P. (2005). Scholars before researchers: On the centrality of the dissertation literature review in research preparation. Educational Researcher, 34(6), 3-15. Wallace, … Continue reading Useful texts on reading and writing

Writing as a social practice

Writing is a task that is usually thought of as a solitary practice. One need only go to a coffee shop in a university town to see individuals hunched over laptops reading and writing to observe some of the work that goes into completion of the numerous term papers, theses and dissertations completed each year … Continue reading Writing as a social practice

Qualitative Research Journals

There are a growing number of journals that publish qualitative studies in particular disciplines. One of the oldest of these is Qualitative Sociology, established in 1978. Since that time, journals have been founded that focus on research in education (International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, founded in 1988), health (Qualitative Health Research, founded in … Continue reading Qualitative Research Journals