In this, thefourth edition of Qualitative ResearchA1ethodsjor the Social Sciences, my goal remains identical to that of previous editions: to offer a handbook for any- one interested in but un:fumiliar with qualitative research methods. I continue to envision that this book will be used along with more general quantitative texts traditionally used in a research methods course as well as a stand…
In this edition, I have revised material in the text and focused greater attention on methodological rigor. The research style presented in this edition remains chiefly sociological. The application of data-gathering and dataanalytic strategies, however, is not designed exclusively for students ofsociology or for sociologists. In fuct, an increasing number of my readers have come from the …