A Realist Approach for Qualitative Research

“Maxwell′s book is an outstanding accomplishment. He has connected a tremendous amount of past and present knowledge in it. His reading and integration cuts across multiple disciplines. I especially like the discussions of causation, ‘validity’, and the methodological significance of viewing culture as distributed.” – Burke Johnson
“This book is well-written and clearly argued, and does a good job of connecting what are often arcane philosophical issues with the more practical concerns of carrying out qualitative research.” – Sam Porter
“The information presented is novel. It serves to advance current epistemological thinking in the area of qualitative research. It is the only book I’m aware of that links issues of epistemology and ontology so directly with qualitative methodologies.” – Marianna L. Litovich
This timely text could at last get us to the tipping point where realistapproaches enter the mainstream of qualitative research. They have gainedwidespread acceptance by philosophers but continue to be regarded withsuspicion by the dominant tribe of constructivist qualitative researchers. Maxwell provides a convincing case that realism helps to resolve many of theproblems they face without deserting cherished aspects of constructivism. – Colin Robson

“This is a book that should be read by qualitative researchers at any stage of their career and by those critical of the qualitative and realist approach to social science, such is the manner in which Maxwell introduces, negotiates and analyses key issues in research methodology.”

Joseph A. Maxwell is a Professor (Emeritus) in the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University, where he taught courses on qualitative and mixed methods research. He is the author of Qualitative Research Design: An Interactive Approach (3rd ed.; SAGE, 2013), A Realist Approach for Qualitative Research (SAGE, 2012), and papers on qualitative and mixed methods research, program evaluation, sociocultural theory, Native American societies, and medical education. He has a PhD in anthropology from the University of Chicago.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.