"The authors take a 'user friendly' systematic approach to qualitative research, something that has long been missing in the field. I consider this to be a groundbreaking work, one that will hit home with students and faculty alike." -Justin M. Laird, SUNY Brockport "This book does an excellent job of integrating design, methods, and analysis. . . . The real beauty of the book is that it overturns many of the age-old assumptions about how 'good' research should be done. . . . The authors' pleasant and refreshing style, coupled with subtle irreverence for outmoded or constraining paradigms of inquiry, makes for highly enjoyable reading." -Roger Rennekamp, University of Kentucky Interactive Qualitative Analysis: A Systems Method for Qualitative Research aims to help students unscramble the mysteries of qualitative data collection, coding, and analysis by showing how to use a systematic, qualitative technique: interactive qualitative analysis. The authors synthesize ideas from grounded theory, path and factor analysis, quality management theory, Foucauldian concepts of power and knowledge, and systems theory. A dialectical revision of Guba and Lincoln's theory of rigor is offered which, combined with systems theory, offers new insights into the meaning of reliability and validity in qualitative research. Unlike many theoretical works, Interactive Qualitative Analysis develops the theory into a complete and transparent set of protocols for research design, observation, analysis, and interpretation. The construction, interpretation, and comparison of recursive systems of meaning, or mindmaps, is articulated in detail. The book is organized so that those not interested in theory can skip to the applied chapters. Case studies illustrate each stage of the research process with an emphasis on interpretation. The combination of theory and practice perfectly suits the book for advanced qualitative research courses across the social sciences, especially those that address epistemology. Professional researchers and evaluators will also find this an invaluable guide to qualitative analysis. Key Features * Advice boxes alert readers to potential pitfalls in qualitative research, and offer the appropriate steps to take in order to avoid such issues * Sidebars provide clear and concise snapshots of the theoretical basis for research decisions * Interactive CD contains sample data and exercises to provide students with effective practice as well as reinforce and clarify principles explained in the book * Provides a "road map" to using interactive qualitative inquiry in dissertation writing
Dr. Northcutt teaches courses in quantitative and qualitative research methods and serves as research advisor on many CCLP dissertation committees. In addition, he serves as Technical Advisor to the Center for Community College Student Engagement (CCCSE) Project. After conducting a series of national research and development projects in adult functional literacy, for which he was the U.S. nominee for the UNESCO world literacy award, Northcutt was named Director of Research for the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. He then went to Austin Community College, where he taught math statistics and computer science while serving as director of the college's administrative computing system and as Director of Analysis for ACC's Office of Institutional Effectiveness.
Prologue: A True Story Acknowledgments 1. Paradigm Wars: The Place of IQA Particles and People : The Relationship of the Observer and the Observed The Paradox of Representation Paradigm Wars A Framework for Discourse More Than a Laundry List Revisiting Kuhn The Problem With Zealots Discourse and Dialectics Aristotelian Logic Aquinas and the Scholastics The Limitations of Logic A Dialectical Alternative The Ideology of IQA Beliefs and Values Redux Looking Back and Looking Forward 2. Systems as Representations In for a Dime, In for a Dollar Corvettes, Golden Means, and Fibonacci Numbers Reification, Reality, and Social Construction Understanding a System Research Questions and Systems What Is Research? Systems Topology Drivers and Outcomes Topological Zones Comparing the Two Models: Ritz Crackers and Coffee Cups Epistemological Acrobatics: Zooming In, Zooming Out, and Looping Making Sense of Systems: A Preview of Rationalization Rigor and the Nature of Qualitative Research IQA Systems 3. IQA Research Flow Bricolage or Petit Point? The Researcher's Footprint Overview of the IQA Research Flow Group Realities: IQA Focus Groups IQA Interviews IQA Results 4. IQA Research Design: Thinking About the Problem Where Do I Start? An Epistemological Dialectic Synthesis, Not Compromise Research Design as a System Touring the System: An Example Final Reflections Case Example 5. Group Reality: System Elements In Debt to TQM Affinities: The Building Blocks of Mindmaps Affinities and Variables: A Rough Analogy The Power of Naming: Constructing Affinities Designing the Focus Group Focus Group Facilitation: Preparing to Conduct a Focus Group Exercise Warm-Up Exercises: Some Variations Architecture and Warm-Ups: The Same Principles Apply Brainstorming the Rudiments of Meaning Facilitator's Role and Functions Clarification of Meaning Affinity Analysis: The Logic of Inductive and Axial Coding Back to the Focus Group Inductive Coding Axial Coding Affinity Descriptions Facilitation Guidelines: Flags for the Facilitator Systems and IQA Focus Group Protocols Case Example 6. Group Reality: System Relationships Theory of Theoretical Coding What Is Theoretical Coding? Issue 1: Level of Detail Issue 2: Organizing the Focus Group Issue 3: Creating a Group Composite Steps and Variations for Focus Group Theoretical Coding Design Considerations Focus Groups and Follow-Up Interviews Focus Group-Only Research Creating a Group Composite: The IRD Determining Drivers and Outcomes Focus Group System Influence Diagram Protocol for Drawing the SID and Removing Redundant Links Conclusion Case Example 7. Individual Reality: The IQA Interview The Role of Interviews The Power of the Gods Data, Analysis, and IQA Structure and Purpose of the IQA Interview Procedure for Creating an Interview Protocol Preparing for the Interview Logistical and Operational Details Improvisation Within Structure Some More Tips for Interviewing Conclusion Case Example 8. Individual Reality: System Relationships Individual and Group Analytics Individual Interview Coding Combined Interview Coding 9. Description IQA Theory and Presentation Format The IQA Cookbook: A Detailed Outline for the "Typical IQA" Study Affinities and Researcher Engagement Turning the Write-Up Crank Case Example: Research Purpose Literature Review Case Example: Literature Review Methodology Documentation Describing the Results Case Example: Describing the Results Describing Relationships Case Example: Describing Relationships Feedback Loops, Zooming, and Naming Case Example: Feedback Loops, Zooming, and Naming Turn the Crank Again 10. Interpretation Representation and Interpretation Interpreting the Results Comparing Affinities Case Example: Compairing Affinities Comparing Composite Systems Case Example: Comparing Composite Systems Describing Individual Variations Case Example: Describing Individual Variations Applied Meaning: Forecasts and Interventions Same Issue, Different Constituencies Same Constituency, Different Issues: Metacomparisons Looking Back and Looking to the End 11. Comparisons, Interpretations, and Theories: Some Examples Overview Case I. Power and Gender: Two Different Worlds Case II. Body Image, Eating Disorders, and Media Messages Case III. Principals' Supervision Styles in High- and Low-Performing Schools Case IV. Education Entrepreneurs: Leaders and Followers Case V. Rural Community Visioning Case VI. The Graduate School Experience Case VII. Text Analysis Afterword References Index About the Authors
"The authors take a 'user friendly' systematic approach to qualitative research, something that has long been missing in the field. I consider this to be a groundbreaking work, one that will hit home with students and faculty alike." -- Justin M. Laird "This book does an excellent job of integrating design, methods, and analysis. . . . The real beauty of the book is that it overturns many of the age-old assumptions about how 'good' research should be done. . . . The authors' pleasant and refreshing style, coupled with subtle irreverence for outmoded or constraining paradigms of inquiry, makes for highly enjoyable reading." -- Roger Rennekamp
