In the introduction to his book, Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches, John Creswell gives an overview of qualitative research and how different approaches can “shape the design or the procedures of a study” (pg. 1). The chapter mainly concentrates on an overview of the book, how it is organized and its purpose. The book examines five main approaches to qualitative research. These are narrative, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, and case studies.  As these will be covered in detail later in the book, I will not describe them here but wait for later discussions. However, on page 10 the author lists the five approaches and cites the names of some of the major researchers in each method. So this is a great resource for an eventual lit review or even just more readings in each qualitative approach.

Creswell states that a qualitative study is made up of the introduction, the purpose, research questions, data collection, data analysis, reporting and validity and evolution standards (p2).  He continues with this idea of how to structure a qualitative research study with an overview that “regardless of the approach” there is “a basic process for research, the introduction, questions, methods of data collection and analysis” (pg. 6).  This seems to be not only an important point for the author but a great reminder for the class on how to structure and even think about the way in which we will design our research studies.

There is a table on page 7-8 that lists different qualitative approaches and the disciplines that use those approaches; an example is grounded theory and its use for research in the nursing field. In concluding this chapter Creswell encourages students to see the book and its design not as a limited and locked path to qualitative research, but rather a direction and hopefully an inspiration for strong qualitative studies.