This paper introduces focus group interview research. It presents a description of the principal characteristics of such research, consideration of some applications by colleges and universities, a description of the planning and implementation involved, and examples from a study using this approach at Carleton College, Minnesota. To begin, the…

Intended to evoke discussion in the research community about the research trend of the 21st century, this paper provides a broad, general definition of qualitative research that covers the many terms currently used under this heading, and discusses seven issues that the research community should address in some manner: (1) new or fad; (2) too many…

Genealogy and family history are examples of everyday life information seeking and provide a unique example of intensive and extensive use of libraries and archives over time. In spite of the ongoing nature of this activity, genealogists and family historians have rarely been the subject of study in the information seeking literature and therefore…

This bibliography on qualitative research methods in speech communication contains 213 entries grouped into three categories: (1) books; (2) speech communication journal articles; and (3) social science journal articles and sections in books. (SR)

Current definitions and philosophical foundations of qualitative research are presented; and designs, evaluation methods, and issues in application of qualitative research to education are discussed. The effects of positivism and the post-positivist era on qualitative research are outlined, and naturalist and positivist approaches are contrasted.…

New trends in language teaching have resulted in a move towards research in the language classroom. For a long time, language teachers tried to train language learners who had a near native command of the language they learned. However, most of these efforts at training proficient learners were not as successful as expected. Scholars attributed…

Reviews persistent criticisms of quantitative research methodologies such as the lack of isomorphism between measures and "reality," its failure to produce "truths" useful to educational practice, the faulty use of statistics, and the poorly understood notion of causality. (JDH)

Addresses perceived shortcomings in Barone's article critiquing arts education in a black elementary school. Questions the author's "blitzkrieg ethnography" approach, the generalizability of his observations, the relevancy of his interpretations to curricula, and the confusion of personal experience with scientism. Sees educational…

Presents field data to examine family responsibility in caring for Alzheimer's disease patients. Addresses features of social comparison, issue contingency, family history, and kinship priority. Argues that qualitative analysis offers empirical lessons about family responsibility and caregiver functioning untaught by other methods. (Author)

Suggests assumptions upon which qualitative research is based are appropriate for studying organized camping because of reality, causality, generalizability, and objectivity. Summarizes five studies using qualitative methods to demonstrate findings that may result from this approach. (NEC)

Teacher evaluation models focusing exclusively on the quantitative recording and coding of observable behaviors may not assist teachers in improving the quality of their instruction. Teacher evaluation should place more emphasis on qualitative dimensions of what teachers say during instruction. Includes four references. (Author/MD)

Some issues in the debate between qualitative and quantitative researchers are examined. It is argued that "local theories" that apply in particular contexts can allow quantitative researchers to abandon the search for universal theories. Parallels are drawn between local theories in the quantitative tradition and case studies in the qualitative…

Examines the schism of values between qualitative and quantitative social science researchers. Focuses on some practical methodological issues which face researchers wishing to adopt a qualitative-interpretive approach. (JDH)

This paper presents findings from a qualitative, exploratory study that was designed to describe the intentional strategies that primary teachers, in a single northeast state, reported they used to promote students' academic, social, and behavioral development. The conceptual framework that guided this investigation was derived from the works of…

The prominent role of Boolean classes in qualitative data analysis software is viewed by some as an encroachment of logical positivism on qualitative research methodology. The authors articulate an embodiment perspective, in which Boolean classes are viewed as conceptual metaphors for apprehending and manipulating data, concepts, and categories in…