Qualitative longitudinal research: research methods
- London Bloomsbury Academic 2021
- x, 164 p. Includes references and index
- Bloomsbury research methods .
Table of content
1 Introducing qualitative longitudinal research 2 Conceptual foundations: Rethinking time and the life course 3 Crafting qualitative longitudinal research: Design and sampling 4 Walking alongside: Sustaining ethical relationships 5 Journeys with data: Field enquiry and analysis 6 Looking back, looking forwards: The value of qualitative longitudinal research
First published Open Access under a Creative Commons license as What is Qualitative Longitudinal Research?, this title is now also available as part of the Bloomsbury Research Methods series.
This volume offers a new introduction to an evolving research method in the social sciences. Qualitative Longitudinal (QL) research is conducted through time. In its qualitative dimensions it opens up the potential to 'think dynamically' in creative, flexible and innovative ways. QL enquiry is rooted in a long-established tradition of qualitative temporal research, spanning the fields of social anthropology, sociological re-studies and biographical research. But over the past two decades, a growing body of scholarship has begun to document this approach and explore its theoretical underpinnings. This in turn has fuelled a growing interest in and rapid uptake of QL methodology across the disciplines and in international context. This practical volume will be a first port of call for students and researchers wishing to use QL research in their own projects. The chapters follow a logical development, from conceptual and methodological foundations, to research practice and ethics, to the generation and analysis of data. Each chapter offers practical examples drawn from the research field to illustrate key themes and the rich possibilities for new applications.