Successful Qualitative Research

′Like water wings for the qualitative research beginner, Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners gracefully supports methodological novices until they learn to swim elegantly, on their own, in qualitative waters… As a teacher, researcher or a student, you will want to thank the gifted methodologists Braun and Clarke for making it all seem so easy′
Michelle Fine
The City University of New York, NY, USA

′This is an admirably useful textbook that provides an uncommonly accessible, practical, and absorbing introduction for beginners to qualitative research′

Eva Magnusson
Umeå University, UMEÅ, Sweden

′A clear, engaging and intelligent qualitative research guide which will greatly appeal to students new to this area. The authors should be commended for their lively style and attention to often hidden processes and practices involved in successful qualitative research′
Brendan Gough
Leeds Metropolitan University

′This book provides an excellent introduction to qualitative research, combining in-depth explanation of the distinctive nature and goals of qualitative research methods with practical tips and helpful examples for beginners′

Lucy Yardley
University of Southampton

′Virginia Braun and Victoria Clarke present a clear and comprehensive road map for executing a successful qualitative study. They do so in a very engaging way that really brings the process to life for the reader. This book will be an essential read for anyone contemplating a qualitative research project′
Guy Faulkner
University of Toronto

′This practical guide refreshingly demystifies the qualitative research process, relentlessly pushing an agenda for uncomplicated but high standards across the board and generously enabling anyone, no matter how inexperienced, to get on with it and do it well. It is the kind of guide that not only says how to do it but that actually shows how to do it, with a myriad of real, reproduced examples, extremely useful tables, boxes, chapter summaries, questions for discussion, exercises and lists of resources including references to a companion website with even more guidance and examples.′ -- Edith Steffen
An excellent book that clearly outlines the principles of qualitative research. An essential read for undergraduate students interested in qualitative research. -- Alison Owen * drupal *
Excellent introductory text, significantly improved in the third edition. -- Dr Alistair Ross * drupal *
Virginia Braun and Victoria Clark have produced an excellent and informative basic textbook in response to their highly successful and well-cited 2006 article ′Using thematic analysis in psychology′. Many psychology and social science students, along with their tutors and supervisors will be delighted to find such a clear introduction to qualitative research methods. As a ′practical guide for beginners′ this provides a simple but systematic description of the process of qualitative research. Starting with basic paradigms and some key theories the book progresses to research design using a range of typical qualitative methods including grounded theory (discussed as a theory and a method). There are clear instructions on how to design and conduct data collection, with examples and descriptions of a range of analysis techniques. Unsurprisingly, given this is written to some extent with psychology students in mind, particular attention is given to interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA); there are also clear descriptions and discussion about why and how to apply other analytic approaches such as thematic, Foucauldian discourse, conversation and narrative. At each stage key concepts and terms are succinctly defined. A set of questions are provided at the end of every chapter as prompts for classroom exercises or self-study, together with a list of relevant text and web-based resources. This book will not necessarily appeal to advanced students of qualitative research or for researchers who are well-versed in the methodology and seeking in depth theoretical debate. There is also not much enthusiasm for using computer assisted software for qualitative data analysis (CAQDAS), but Braun and Clark make it clear they have a fairly neutral stance to computer software preferring, with some good reason, the low tech approach. But this textbook is a most welcome addition to other basic texts in qualitative research. I would happily recommend it as a key introductory text for undergraduates as well as postgraduate students at Masters and Doctoral level. -- Dr Amanda Bingley * drupal *
Successful Qualitative Research is an excellent resource for students not yet familiar with the theoretical and practical aspects of qualitative research. -- Dr Anna Kende * drupal *
Added to reading list -- Dr Campbell Killick * drupal *
A fresh introduction to qualitative research. It will of particular use to novice researchers, but more seasoned practitioners will find the worked examples and the comparisons between different methods of great use. -- Dr Dario Pellegrini * drupal *
This is an essential and accessible text for any students at undergraduate or masters level adopting qualitative techniques in their projects. I also find it an invaluable reference text- lively and well written. -- Dr Elizabeth Jenkinson * drupal *
A worthwhile addition to market. The book is well considered with the 10 fundamentals being a particularly good chapter. The chapter summaries work well and the examples are very helpful. The copious amount of personal information about the authors is interesting but does not necessarily enhance the quality of the book. -- Dr F Murphy * drupal *
A very accessible text. I particulalry liked the way the authors covered analysis which is typically not covered well in other books on qualitative methods -- Dr Gillian Abel * drupal *
A great duo Braun and Clark. The book has lovely examples of research questions and outlines the practical aspects of qualitative research. Presented in a well written way and easy to access for students. It guides the students through the process of qualitative research offering suggestions, guidance and support. -- Dr Helen Nicholas * drupal *
This is a useful introductory book to doing qualitative research, written in an accessible and engaging way. It covers a range of pertinant topics inlcuding the importance of the researcher′s philosophical position and the impact of this in directing research. The use of the same data set to illustrate differences across analytical approaches is a particualry useful approach for those new to qualitative research. This will be a valuable resource for undergraduate students to consult. -- Dr Helen Stivaros * drupal *
This is a very detailed yet very simple even for the beginners to quickly master qualitative research. Very ideal for both undergraduates and postgraduate students. -- Dr Joshua Ndiege * drupal *
A great practical guide for students studying Qualitative methodology -- Dr Kevin Wilson-Smith * drupal *
A very useful and relevant book for data analysis - easy to follow as well supported with lots of examples .Questions included in each chapter are particularly useful and helpful to stimulate student′s thinking.
Definitely an important useful resource book for beginners on how to go about analysising qualitative data sucessfully. -- Dr Khatijah Abdullah * drupal *
An excellent introduction and practical guide for qualitative research and thematic analysis. -- Dr Kirsty Budds * drupal *
Excellent text. Good use of ′boxes′ to clarify and highlight key concepts. Good idea to support lecturers in providing key questions for lecture/classroom discussion. The additional resources for each chapter were varied and appropriate. the key aspect/positive for the text was the step by step, or, chapter by chapter guide on qualitative analysis. Students often struggle with the coding etc...and these chapters provided a clear and unambiguous approach to the process. -- Dr Lance Doggart * drupal *
Excellent text. Good use of ′boxes′ to clarify and highlight key concepts. Good idea to support lecturers in providing key questions for lecture/classroom discussion. The additional resources for each chapter were varied and appropriate. the key aspect/positive for the text was the step by step, or, chapter by chapter guide on qualitative analysis. Students often struggle with the coding etc...and these chapters provided a clear and unambiguous approach to the process. -- Dr Lance Doggart * drupal *
Clear, to the point, relevant to today′s world. -- Dr Leslie-Jean Thornton * drupal *
A well written and informative text. Easy to read and applicable to help students learn the practicalities of conducting qual research. good. I will recommend to my students. -- Dr Lisa Newson * drupal *
This is engagingly written and provides sound advice for novice researchers and helpful worked examples. I have long recommended Braun and Clarke′s method for thematic analysis. However, I couldn′t spot anything about the dual stance of a researcher and professional person eg nurse who would be under a duty to act if a participant disclosed something that raised a safeguarding or patient safety or fitness for practice issue. -- Dr Louise Terry * drupal *
Fantastic guide for early researchers - have had good feedback on the book from colleagues already. -- Dr Merran Toerien * drupal *
It is a comprehensive text for qualitative research beginners. I particularly find the sections of reflexivity useful. -- Dr Moira Cachia * drupal *
An excellent book that clearly takes students through the process of qualitative research design.I have used this book as a reference and recommended reading throughout my module and will continue to do. The only complaint from students is the price, which is in excess of the £20 ceiling that most students seem to see as the deciding factor when choosing which books to buy. -- Dr Nick Wilson * drupal *
A useful resource for healthcare professionals who are engaging with qualitative research. -- Dr Paul Leighton * drupal *
A well-organised guide for beginners -- Dr Peter Forster * drupal *
A much needed text. -- Dr Simon Gibbs * drupal *
Great text book. The bible for TA. -- Dr Siobhan Lynam * drupal *
There have been a raft of books on qualitative research methodology in psychology over recent years. This book is one of the better ones.

What I like is that it has coherence through being authored by two experts in the field and that it is not paradigm specific. This means that we get a good development of argument and an overall perspective on the fundamentals of conducting qualitative research. -- Dr Timothy Auburn * drupal *
This is an excellent all round introduction to qualitative research. -- Helen Gregory * drupal *
A great book, which is accessible and useful. Section 3 (Analysing qualitative data) is particularly helpful as it provides advice on coding and identifying themes. -- Miss Alison Hardy * drupal *
Essential for research qualitative methods with level 6 students. Overviews of all key aspects and 10 fundamentals of qualitative data is particularly useful for students. Will be using this across lectures. -- Miss Chloe Cutler * drupal *
Very approachable in style. -- Miss Eleanore Bliss * drupal *
Well thought out layout -- Miss Kate Waller * drupal *
Useful text written in an accessible way- I was looking for something more structured and specific to education. Might be good for undergraduates. -- Miss Sarah McGrath * drupal *
This book has been recommended to our 3rd year OT students as an essential reading for the module Research2. They are in the process of conducting their group research project and the book is a significant tool throughout the whole research process. It is especially helpful with data collection and data analysis since it provides the comparison of different methods. I find especially useful that it provides the exact steps for Data Analysis (for instant with TA) since the text that we were using before was an article of the same authors from the year 2006. So I′m very glad the authors decided to publish this textbook. -- Miss Tanja Krizaj * drupal *
really useful text that walks the reader through research process and methods. -- Miss Tracey Barnfather * drupal *
A good introduction to Qualitative data collection and analysis -- Mr Andrew Green * drupal *
This text provides learners the opportunity to develop further their understanding and practice of qualitative research, with useful hints and tips to enable them to apply practice across a range of projects. The practical advice is invalid and useful as an indicator in seminars and tutorials -- Mr Darren Carr * drupal *
This is ideal for social workers on their dissertation, where qualitative research is more common place. It enhances texts introduced at undergraduate level. -- Mr Dave Mason * drupal *
I have been waiting for this text ever since using Braun and Clarke′s seminar 2006 paper extensively to support my qualitative methods teaching at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level in Psychology.

The result has surpassed my expectations; I cannot think of a better introduction to qualitative methods. I read this book from cover to cover within the first week of receiving it and I had no hesitation at all in adopting this as essential reading for all research methodology modules in our BPS accredited Psychology courses.

It is clear that Braun and Clarke have extensive experience in teaching qualitative methodologies and the clear descriptions and related pedagogical features are perfect for an introduction to this exciting and meaningful approach to research.

The heart-felt acknowledgement for the "students who have taken our research methods classes and taught us how to teach, and write about, qualitative research" illustrate their emphasis on clarity, understanding and accessibility. Furthermore, this is a practical guide - an invaluable resource to support those students who wish to immerse themselves in qualitative methodologies for their final year projects or dissertations. I cannot recommend this text highly enough for students and academics alike. -- Mr David Ormerod * drupal *
Provides a comprehensive overview of strategic tips and skills for starting and completing successful qualitative research.
Very good book. -- Mr Gilbert Regan * drupal *
A good book on qualitative research written in very plain language...