“All students of qualitative research in psychology will find a wealth of information in Carla Willig’s
book. With its expanded sections and detailed consideration of concepts, techniques and applications of
qualitative research, the interactive approach taken in this book is ably supported by extensive research
examples. As usual with Carla Willig’s clear and detailed writing style, this book will give both new and
existing researchers the opportunity to think clearly about their use of qualitative research and its methods.”
Dr Nollaig Frost, Senior Lecturer, Psychology, Middlesex University, UK “A tour de force from an expert guide which grounds students in the lexicon of qualitative psychology,
before explicating a range of major methodologies. Students will appreciate many worked examples,
and will be stimulated by the coverage of contemporary innovations, issues and debates – an invaluable
textbook.”
Professor Brendan Gough, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK “In just over a decade, Carla Willig's book has become one of the key introductory texts in the field. Many
of my students and supervisees have enjoyed reading it – finding complex issues and debates have been
explained in an accessible manner. This latest edition includes helpful advice on writing a research proposal,
some newer research methods and discussion about the future of qualitative research. In addition,
there are new chapters on epistemology and interpretation which I think my students will find particularly
valuable as these are often the most challenging topics when one is new to qualitative research.”
Dr David Harper, Reader in Clinical Psychology, University of East London, UK “Once again, Carla Willig has produced a wonderfully clear account of how and why qualitative methods
ought be used to answer psychological questions. Not only does Willig examine key theories, ethics and
debates surrounding the use and interpretation of qualitative data, she shows us 'how' to do it – step by
step, with a tremendous sense of balance and integrity. This new edition covers some of the more recent
debates in qualitative research, contains new examples of how to design, carry out and approach analysis
in qualitative methods and lots of useful questions that researchers ask themselves along the way. My
students have used Willig’s writings on qualitative methods for many years as they can understand and
engage with it. There is simply no other equivalent text in psychology to rival Willig’s – her clarity, conviction
and sheer brilliance in putting difficult ideas on methods into plain language is something students
in psychology will relish for a very long time to come.”
Paula Reavey, Professor of Psychology, London South Bank University, UK “In writing this text originally, Carla Willig argued that, unlike quantitative research (where the aim is to
follow a set of rules and get them ‘right’), qualitative research is more about ‘having adventures’. From the
start it sounds a lot more fun, and certainly a lot more interesting! And it was – students and lecturers
alike appreciate its lively, practical approach, its very clear and elegant writing, its use of clever examples
of students’ own work and its lucid explanations of the theory underpinning methods and methodologies.
This new, third edition is a real triumph. It’s more comprehensive and it’s bang up to date. It has three
additional new chapters, more examples of student projects, and overall an even more systematic approach.
It is, in my view, the most approachable and person-friendly text around introducing qualitative research
in psychology, and a great opportunity to ‘boldly go’, have adventures, and really get to grips with doing
qualitative research.”
Wendy Stainton Rogers, Professor Emerita, Faculty of Health and Social Care, The Open University, UK |