qualitative research: an introduction to methods and designs is an up-to-date guide to qualitative study design, data collection, analysis, and reporting, written by a well-chosen group of articulate and accessible scholars and researchers. the authors explain, step by step, the range of methodologies and methods for conducting qualitative research focusing on how they are applied when conducting an actual study. separate chapters are devoted to methods of data collection, specific approaches to qualitative research, and current issues in the field. the book also covers the writing and publication of qualitative studies. specifically, chapters will cover the methods, designs, and analyses related to the methodologies of history, case study, program evaluation, ethnography, autoethnography, narrative, life histories, emancipatory discourses, feminist perspectives, african american inquiry, indigenous studies, and practitioner qualitative research. to achieve the broadest possible audience, each chapter emphasizes a step by step guide to applying each identified qualitative research using examples from both the social sciences and education. this textbook is intended for beginning students of research as a primary text for introductory courses at the upper level undergraduate and graduate level. such courses would include qualitative and interpretive research methods classes in education and the social sciences. in addition, the book can serve as a supplementary text for broader research courses at both introductory and advanced levels since most available texts often lack a thorough treatment of qualitative approaches. preface purpose of text; instructor guidance; student guidance; acknowledgements introduction: definitions and historical perspective; rationale: context and meaning making; text road map part i. a qualitative frame of mind ch. 1: the democratization of qualitative research- e. house & k. howe ch. 2: methods and tools in qualitative research- ch. 3. analyzing and reporting qualitative findings- f. j. riemer ch. 4: ethics in qualitative research part ii. approaches in qualitative research ch. 5: historical research- l. hines ch. 6: case study research- t. moore & m. quartaroli ch. 7: program evaluation studies- m. patton ch. 8: ethnographic research ch. 9: autoethnography ch. 10: narrative inquiry- c. lemley ch. 11: life history studies