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Qualitative Research

Find out more about qualitative research and how to locate examples of qualitative research.

Qualitative Research

Qualitative research investigates aspects of social life which are not amenable to quantitative measurement. Associated with a variety of theoretical perspectives, qualitative research uses a range of methods to focus on the meanings and interpretation of social phenomena and social processes in the particular contexts in which they occur.

While "qualitative research" or "qualitative studies" can be used to find articles that use a variety of qualitative methods, specific qualitative research methods may also be used.   Such as

   Action Research                                   Appreciative Inquiry

   Autoethnography                                  Biographical/Life History

   Case study                                          Ethnography                         

   Field Study                                                       Focus Group

   Grounded Theory                                  Narrative Inquiry

   Naturalistic Observation/Inquiry              Oral History

   Phenomenology

"Mixed methods" may also be tried to locate research using both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Web sites

Check out these web sites for more information about qualitative research:

Finding books about qualitative research

Using the Books & More tab, search UNC Libraries' catalog or Prospector.

Available reference and reserve resources

The following books can be found in the Michener Library Reference Collection on the main floor:

Sage Dictionary of Qualitative Inquiry - H 61 .S4435 2015
Sage Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods - H 61 .S234 2008 v.1-2
 

The following titles are available for checkout from Reserve:

Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research - H 62 .H2455 2011
Sage Handbook of Qualitative Research - H 62 .H2455 2005

 

Handbooks