INTERPRETIVE DESCRIPTION, SECOND EDITION
The first edition of Interpretive Description established itself as the key resource for novice and intermediate level researchers in applied settings for conducting a qualitative research project with practical outcomes. In the second edition, leading qualitative researcher Sally Thorne retains the clear, straightforward guidance for researchers and students in health, social service, mental health, and related fields. This new edition includes additional material on knowledge synthesis and integration, evidence-based practice, and data analysis. In addition, this book
takes the reader through the qualitative research process, from research design through fieldwork, analysis, interpretation, and application of the results;
provides numerous examples from a variety of applied fields to show research in action;
uses an accessible style and affordable price to be the ideal book for teaching qualitative research in clinical and applied disciplines.
DEVELOPING QUALITATIVE INQUIRY
Series Editor: Janice Morse
University of Utah
Books in the new Developing Qualitative Inquiry series, written by leaders in qualitative inquiry, will address important topics in qualitative methods. Targeted to a broad multidisciplinary readership, the books are intended for mid-level/advanced researchers and advanced students. The series will forward the field of qualitative inquiry by describing new methods or developing particular aspects of established methods.
Series Editorial Board
H. Russell Bernard, Kathy Charmaz, D. Jean Clandinin, Juliet Corbin, Carmen de la Cuesta, John Engel, Sue E. Estroff, Jane Gilgun, Jeffrey C. Johnson, Carl Mitcham, Katja Mruck, Judith Preissle, Jean J. Schensul, Sally Thorne, John van Maanen, Max van Manen
Volumes in this Series:
1. Autoethnography as Method, Heewon Chang
2. Interpretive Description, Sally Thorne
3. Developing Grounded Theory: The Second Generation, Janice M. Morse, Phyllis Noerager Stern, Juliet Corbin, Barbara Bowers, Kathy Charmaz, and Adele E. Clarke
4. Mixed Method Design: Principles and Procedures, Janice M. Morse and Linda Niehaus
5. Playbuilding as Qualitative Research: A Participatory Arts-based Approach, Joe Norris
6. Poetry as Method: Reporting Research Through Verse, Sandra L. Faulkner
7. Duoethnography: Dialogic Methods for Social, Health, and Educational Research, Joe Norris, Richard D. Sawyer, and Darren E. Lund, editors
8. Collaborative Autoethnography, Heewon Chang, Faith Wambura Ngunjiri, and Kathy-Ann C. Hernandez
9. Engaging in Narrative Inquiry, D. Jean Clandinin
10. Participatory Visual and Digital Methods, Alene Gubrium and Krista Harper
11. Fiction as Research Practice, Patricia Leavy
12. Applied Ethnography: Guidelines to Field Research, Pertti Pelto
13. Phenomenology of Practice, Max van Manen
14. Qualitative Ethics in Practice, Martin Tolich, editor.
15. Establishing Rigor in Qualitative Inquiry, Janice M. Morse
16. Engaging in Narrative Inquiries with Children and Youth, D. Jean Clandinin, Vera Caine, Sean Lessard, and Janice Huber
Second edition published 2016
by Routledge
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and by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
2016 Taylor & Francis
The right of Sally Thorne to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
First edition published by Left Coast Press 2009
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Thorne, Sally E. (Sally Elizabeth), 1951
Title: Interpretive description : qualitative research for applied practice / Sally Thorne.
Description: Second edition. | New York ; London : Routledge, [2016] | Series: Developing qualitative inquiry ; 2 | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015040853 (print) | LCCN 2016000911 (ebook) | ISBN 9781629582986 (hardback) | ISBN 9781629582993 (paperback) | ISBN 9781315545196 (Consumer eBook)
Subjects: LCSH: EducationResearch. | EducationResearchMethodology. | Knowledge management. | BISAC: SOCIAL SCIENCE / General. | SOCIAL SCIENCE / Methodology. | MEDICAL / Nursing / Research & Theory.
Classification: LCC LB1028 .T46 2016 (print) | LCC LB1028 (ebook) | DDC 370.7dc23
LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015040853
ISBN: 978-1-62958-298-6 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-62958-299-3 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-54519-6 (ebk)
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by Ryan Kenney