Our digest of the best books on qualitative research.
Qualitative research in general
📗 An Introduction to Qualitative Research (7th Edition)
By Uwe Flick | SAGE Publications Ltd, 2023; ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A comprehensive and widely used guide that covers the entire qualitative research process—from design to analysis and reporting. Ideal for both beginners and advanced researchers seeking a structured overview of qualitative methods and current debates. This book was described as “the single most important introductory book on qualitative inquiry in the social sciences today.”
Formats: ebook to buy/rent, paperback, hardcover
Google Preview, Book website
632 pages; Foundations of qualitative research; Research design; Verbal data; Data beyond talk; Qualitative data analysis; Grounding, writing and outlook
📗 Doing Interviews: 2 (2nd Edition)
By Svend Brinkmann & Steinar Kvale | SAGE Publications Ltd, 2018
A practical and theoretical guide to conducting qualitative interviews. It explores philosophical foundations, interviewer roles, and ethical challenges while offering step-by-step advice for designing and analyzing interviews.
📗 Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation (4th Edition)
By Elizabeth J. Tisdell, Sharan B. Merriam | San Francisco: Jossey-Bass 2016
An accessible introduction to planning and executing qualitative research. It balances theory and application, providing real-world examples and strategies for effective data collection, analysis, and reporting.
📗 Successful Qualitative Research: A Practical Guide for Beginners
By Virginia Braun, Victoria Clarke | SAGE Publications Ltd, 2013 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
An engaging and reader-friendly book that demystifies qualitative research. It’s particularly known for its clarity and strong focus on reflexivity, ethics, and thematic analysis. Highly accessible and very practical.
📗 Collecting Qualitative Data: A Field Manual for Applied Research
By Greg Guest, Emily E. Namey, Marilyn L. Mitchell | SAGE Publications Ltd, 2012
A practical field guide to data collection methods including interviews, focus groups, and observation. Designed for applied researchers who need actionable advice on planning and conducting fieldwork.
Methodology
📗 Qual-Online: The Essential Guide: What every researcher needs to know about conducting and moderating interviews via the web
By Jennifer Dale, Susan Abbott | Paramount Market Publishing, Inc., 2014
A pioneering guide to conducting and moderating online qualitative research. It offers practical tools and examples to help researchers adapt traditional techniques for the digital environment.
📗 Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design – Choosing Among Five Approaches (5th Edition)
By John W. Creswell and Cheryl N. Poth | SAGE Publications Ltd, 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A best-selling text outlining five key qualitative approaches—narrative, phenomenology, grounded theory, ethnography, and case study. Clear explanations help researchers select and apply the right design for their project.
Formats: ebook, paperback; 552 pages
📗 Mastering Focus Groups and Depth Interviews: A Practitioner’s Guide
By Roger A. Straus | Paramount Market Publishing, Inc., 2020
A practitioner-focused book offering step-by-step methods for planning, moderating, and analyzing focus groups and interviews. Emphasizes practical skills and real-world case examples.
📗 Applied Qualitative Research – A Total Quality Framework Approach (1st Edition)
By Margaret R. Roller and Paul J. Lavrakas | The Guilford Press, 2015;
Introduces a Total Quality Framework for designing, conducting, and evaluating qualitative research with rigor and transparency. A valuable reference for professionals seeking high-quality standards.
Formats: ebook, paperback, hardcover, 398 pages
📗 Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research (5th Edition)
By Richard A. Krueger, Mary Anne Casey | SAGE Publications Ltd, 2014
A classic text that explains how to plan, conduct, and analyze focus groups effectively. Updated editions reflect new trends, including online and hybrid approaches.
📗 Moderating to the Max
By Jean Bystedt, Siri Lynn, and Deborah Potts | Paramount Market Publishing, Inc., 2011
A go-to resource for developing strong moderation skills. Packed with exercises, checklists, and insider tips to help moderators engage participants and generate deeper insights.
📗 Secrets of a Master Moderator
By Naomi Henderson | Paramount Market Publishing, Inc., 2015
Written by one of the industry’s most experienced moderators, this book shares professional techniques and personal insights for achieving excellence in qualitative facilitation.
📗 Mr. Online’s Playbook
By Jeff Walkowski | Paramount Market Publishing, Inc., 2023
A practical guide to mastering online qualitative research. It covers everything from recruitment and discussion guides to moderation and analysis—perfect for researchers transitioning to digital methods.
178 pages. Content: Section 1 The Fundamentals; Section 2 Selling Online Qualitative; Section 3 General Design Considerations; Section 4 Recruitment; Section 5 Discussion Guides; Section 6 Observer Management; Section 7 Moderation; Section 8 Analysis
Data Analysis
📗 Analyzing Qualitative Data (2nd edition)
By Graham R Gibbs | SAGE Publications Ltd, 2018; Formats: ebook, paperback Book website;
A thorough and accessible guide to qualitative data analysis. Covers coding, thematic and narrative analysis, software use, and practical steps for transforming data into insights.
Content: The nature of qualitative analysis; Data preparation; Writing; Thematic coding and categorizing; Analyzing biographical, narrative and discursive elements; Comparative analysis; Analytic quality and ethics; Getting started with computer-assisted qualitative data analysis; Searching and other analytic activities using software; Putting it all together
📗 Qualitative Data Analysis: Practical Strategies
By Pat Bazeley | SAGE Publications Ltd, 2020; Formats: ebook, paperback; Website
A hands-on book that integrates conceptual understanding with practical methods for analyzing qualitative data using both manual and digital tools.
📗 The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers (Fourth Edition)
By Johnny Saldaña | SAGE Publications Ltd, 2021; Formats: ebook, paperback
A definitive reference on coding methods. Explains over 30 coding approaches with detailed examples, making it an essential resource for qualitative data analysis.
📗 Qualitative Data Analysis with NVivo (2nd edition)
By Kristi Jackson, Patricia Bazeley | SAGE Publications Ltd, 2019; Formats: ebook, paperback; Website
A complete guide to using NVivo software for managing and analyzing qualitative data. Includes step-by-step instructions, screenshots, and examples for both beginners and advanced users.
376 pages. Content: Where to begin? Designing an NVivo project; Coding foundations; Advanced coding; Cases, classifications and comparisons; Surveys and mixed methods; Querying data; Literature reviews and PDF files; Working with multimedia files; Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and web pages; Teamwork; Moving on – further resources
📗 Qualitative Data Analysis with ATLAS.ti (3rd edition)
By Susanne Friese| SAGE Publications Ltd, 2019; Formats: ebook, paperback; Website
Offers a practical introduction to analyzing qualitative data using ATLAS.ti software. Provides clear guidance on project setup, coding, and advanced analysis features.
We will add more books soon. If your favourite book is not here, please drop us a line !