A Realist Approach for Qualitative ResearchThis ground-breaking book makes the case for adopting a realist philosophical perspective for qualitative research. Joseph Maxwell argues for critically applying a realist ontology to a number of important theoretical and methodological issues. This can provide a stronger justification for what qualitative researchers do, he contends, and significantly contribute to current theories and practices. The book outlines critical realism and considers its implications for how we conceptualize meaning and culture, causation, and diversity. The author applies critical realist ideas and approaches to the design and methods of qualitative research, and presents two in-depth case studies of projects he conducted, describing how realist (and other) perspectives informed the research, the methods, and the conclusions. |
Contents
Diversity Is Real | 51 |
Realism and Qualitative Methods | 69 |
Data Analysis with Barbara Miller | 109 |
Applications of Realism in Qualitative Research | 149 |
Meaning and Diversity in Inuit | 165 |
Conclusion | 181 |
| 205 | |
Common terms and phrases
abstract actual analyzing anthropology aspects assessing assumptions behavior beliefs biological causal explanation causal processes claim cognition compatible components concept of culture conceptual framework conclusions constructivism constructivist constructivist epistemology context contiguity contiguity-based critical ethnography critical realism data collection described descriptive validity develop discussed in Chapter distinction distributed cognition diversity episodic memory epistemology ethnographic evidence example explicitly goals Huberman implications important individuals influence informants interaction interpretive interpretivism interview Inuit Inuktitut involved issues kin terminology kin terms kinship Kroeber Maxwell meaning mental narrative observation ontological participants particular philosophical physical Plains Plains Indian positivism positivist postmodernism present qualitative data analysis qualitative methods qualitative research qualitative study quantitative real phenomena realist approach realist perspective reality relations relationships research design research questions sense similarity similarity-based simply slametan social organization social sciences social structure society solidarity specific theory tion tive understanding validity threats variables