Qualitative research & evaluation methods: Integrating theory and practice

The fourth edition of Michael Quinn Patton's Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods Integrating Theory and Practice, published by Sage Publications, analyses and provides clear guidance and advice for using a range of different qualitative methods for evaluation.

Contents

• Part 1. Framing Qualitative Inquiry: Theory Informs Practice, Practice Informs Theory
  • Chapter 1. The Nature, Niche, and Value of Qualitative Inquiry
    • Module 1. How qualitative inquiry contributes to our understanding of the world
    • Module 2. What makes qualitative data qualitative
    • Module 3. Making methods decisions
    • Module 4. The fruit of qualitative methods: Chapter summary and conclusion
    • Module 5. Strategic design principles for qualitative inquiry
    • Module 6. Strategic principles guiding data collection and fieldwork
    • Module 7. Strategic principles for qualitative analysis and reporting findings
    • Module 8: Integrating the 12 strategic qualitative principles in practice
    • Module 9. Understanding the Paradigms Debate: Quants versus Quals
    • Module 10. Introduction to Qualitative Inquiry Frameworks
    • Module 11. Ethnography and Autoethnography
    • Module 12. Positivism, Postpositivism, Empiricism and Foundationalist Epistemologies
    • Module 13. Grounded Theory and Realism
    • Module 14 Phenomenology and Heuristic Inquiry
    • Module 15 Social Constructionism, Constructivism, Postmodernism, and Narrative Inquiry
    • Module 16. Ethnomethodology, Semiotics, and Symbolic Interaction, Hermeneutics and Ecological Psychology
    • Module 17 Systems Theory and Complexity Theory
    • Module 18. Pragmatism, Generic Qualitative Inquiry, and Utilization-Focused Evaluation
    • Module 19 Patterns and themes across inquiry frameworks: Chapter summary and conclusions
    • Module 20. Practical purposes, concrete questions, and actionable answers: Illuminating and enhancing quality
    • Module 21. Program evaluation applications: Focus on outcomes
    • Module 22 Specialized qualitative evaluation applications
    • Module 23 Evaluating program models and theories of change, and evaluation models especially aligned with qualitative methods
    • Module 24 Interactive and participatory qualitative applications
    • Module 25 Democratic evaluation, indigenous research and evaluation, capacity building, and cultural competence
    • Module 26 Special methodological applications
    • Module 27 A vision of the utility of qualitative methods: Chapter summary and conclusion
    • Chapter 5. Designing Qualitative Studies
      • Module 28 Design thinking: Questions derive from purpose, design answers questions
      • Module 29 Date Collection Decisions
      • Module 30 Purposeful sampling and case selection: Overview of strategies and options
      • Module 31 Single-significant-case sampling as a design strategy
      • Module 32 Comparison-focused sampling options
      • Module 33 Group characteristics sampling strategies and options
      • Module 34 Concept and theoretical sampling strategies and options
      • Module 35. Instrumental-use multiple-case sampling
      • Module 36 Sequential and emergence-driven sampling strategies and options
      • Module 37 Analytically focused sampling
      • Module 38 Mixed, stratified, and nested purposeful sampling strategies
      • Module 39 Information-rich cases
      • Module 40 Sample size for qualitative designs
      • Module 41 Mixed methods designs
      • Module 42 Qualitative design chapter summary and conclusion: Methods choices and decisions
      • Module 43 The Power of direct observation
      • Module 44. Variations in observational methods
      • Module 45. Variations in duration of observations and site visits: From rapid reconnaissance to longitudinal studies over years
      • Module 46. Variations in observational focus and summary of dimensions along which fieldwork varies
      • Module 47. What to observe: Sensitizing concepts
      • Module 48. Integrating what to observe with how to observe
      • Module 49. Unobtrusive observations and indicators, and documents and archival fieldwork
      • Module 50. Observing oneself: Reflexivity and Creativity, and Review of Fieldwork Dimensions
      • Module 51. Doing Fieldwork: The Data Gathering Process
      • Module 52. Stages of fieldwork: Entry into the field
      • Module 53. Routinization of fieldwork: The dynamics of the second stage
      • Module 54. Bringing fieldwork to a close
      • Module 55. The observer and what is observed: Unity, separation, and reactivity
      • Module 56. Chapter summary and conclusion: Guidelines for fieldwork
      • Module 57 The Interview Society: Diversity of applications
      • Module 58 Distinguishing interview approaches and types of interviews
      • Module 59 Question options and skilled question formulation
      • Module 60 Rapport, neutrality, and the interview relationship
      • Module 61 Interviewing groups and cross-cultural interviewing
      • Module 62. Creative modes of qualitative inquiry
      • Module 63. Ethical issues and challenges in qualitative interviewing
      • Module 64. Personal reflections on interviewing, and chapter summary and conclusion
      • Chapter 8. Qualitative Analysis and Interpretation
        • Module 65. Setting the Context for Qualitative Analysis: Challenge, Purpose, and Focus
        • Module 66. Thick description and case studies: The bedrock of qualitative analysis
        • Module 67. Qualitative Analysis Approaches: Identifying Patterns and Themes
        • Module 68. The intellectual and operational work of analysis
        • Module 69. Logical and matrix analyses, and synthesizing qualitative studies
        • Module 70. Interpreting findings, determining substantive significance, phenomenological essence, and hermeneutic interpretation
        • Module 71. Causal explanation thorough qualitative analysis
        • Module 72. New analysis directions: Contribution analysis, participatory analysis, and qualitative counterfactuals
        • Module 73. Writing up and reporting findings, including using visuals
        • Module 74. Special analysis and reporting issues: Mixed methods, focused communications, and principles-focused report exemplar.
        • Module 75 Chapter summary and conclusion, plus case study exhibits
        • Module 76. Analytical processes for enhancing credibility: systematically engaging and questioning the data
        • Module 77. Four triangulation processes for enhancing credibility
        • Module 78. Alternative and competing criteria for judging the quality of qualitative inquiries:
          • Part 1, universal criteria, and traditional scientific research versus constructivist criteria
          • Part 2: artistic, participatory, critical change, systems, pragmatic, and mixed criteria

          Sources

          Patton, M. Q. (2014). Qualitative Research & Evaluation Methods: Integrative Theory and Practice. SAGE Publications.