This book is a collaborative production, based on the experiences of the co-authors in presenting a course over many years in Qualitative Methods to MSc students. All the team are members of staff of the Department of Psychology and Speech Pathology at the Manchester Metropolitan University, and have a wealth of experience in teaching and using qualitative methods. This is not an edited book; the authors have drafted particular chapters, but the team has collectively discussed, reworked and rewritten the text to produce a coherent review and guide to the area. This research guide is designed to be an introductory text to qualitative methods, intended for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students. As well as furnishing an understanding of the assumptions underlying such research methods, the book is intended to present a practical guide as to how to carry out qualitative investigations, and in addition to provide the basis for a critical evaluation of these methods.
