Qualitative Research from Start to Finish

“I recommend this book for teaching and conducting qualitative research. It would be possible to follow Dr. Yin’s suggestions using the end-of-chapter exercises to develop a course for one or two semesters….This book would be a great help for busy professors.”

—Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal


“An exciting addition to the list of sources available for the new researcher....Within [his] linear, clear sequencing, Yin offered multiple options and reasons for choosing certain options (or choosing other options), encouraging researchers to do the same. The writing style was clear, concise and not jargon-loaded, which also might appeal to the novice researcher….I connected with Yin's work as a researcher and as a teacher.”

—The Qualitative Report (on the first edition)


“With remarkable breadth of coverage, this is an excellent guide for both beginning and advanced students working their way through field-based projects. Practical in approach and documented with countless examples, the book covers everything from dealing with institutional review boards and preparing a pilot study to producing analytical generalizations, assessing rival explanations, and managing reviewer feedback. Few books cover so many aspects of the qualitative research process with such clarity, insight, and common sense. Yin has produced an impressive handbook that students and instructors will return to again and again.”

—Mario Luis Small, PhD, Grafstein Family Professor of Sociology, Harvard University


“Written from a practical, inductive, and adaptive perspective, this text offers the best blend of scholarly examples and commonsense advice that I've seen. It is highly readable and the definitions and explanations are very easy to follow. The preview boxes, bullet points, and quick study boxes make it easy to find what you need. I really like the research vignettes and the extended sample study. The end-of-chapter exercises are excellent; I would assign many of them.”

—Michelle C. Bligh, PhD, Division of Behavioral and Organizational Sciences, Claremont Graduate University


“With impressive content and coverage, this book offers 'nuts-and-bolts' guidance for conducting qualitative inquiry. The book emphasizes that qualitative researchers need to be practical, inductive, and adaptive, and offers compelling illustrations of these three principles in action. Yin is particularly adroit at showing the value of qualitative approaches for conducting evaluation research. The book is amply illustrated, with plenty of exercises to familiarize students with the practices described. This text will be useful for a wide variety of researchers, from advanced undergraduates to graduate students in such disciplines as nursing, public health, and social policy.”

—James A. Holstein, PhD, Department of Social and Cultural Sciences, Marquette University


“Yin presents the basics of qualitative research in a clear, methodical manner that provides a basis for discussion and exploration in a course. Vignettes throughout the book give students a deeper understanding of the topics discussed. I appreciate the interdisciplinary nature of the vignettes, which are not wed to any one field. An additional strength is the discussion of ethics and the role of the institutional review board.”

—Penny A. Pasque, PhD, Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Oklahoma


“This book's inductive, 'learn-by-doing' approach is the best way to learn how to do qualitative research. It is chock full of practical tips and suggestions, presented in an understandable, jargon-free format. Our introductory qualitative research methods class requires pilot studies, which makes the text a perfect fit. The sections on analyzing, interpreting, and writing up data are superb, and detailed enough for use in an advanced qualitative data analysis class.”

—Lance D. Fusarelli, PhD, Department of Leadership, Policy, and Adult and Higher Education, North Carolina State University


“The pedagogical features are well constructed, and the examples bring a real-world focus to qualitative research. This is the approach that I try to use in my courses, as most of my students are going to be administrators or policy analysts, not academics.”

—Miriam Levitt, PhD, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ottawa, Canada


“This text is very practical and gives a solid overview of the qualitative process. The book's organization enables students to easily follow along as they conduct their own research projects. The descriptions of different types of data collection are especially strong, and the level of detail regarding interviewing and field observations will be beneficial for students who are new to field research. Yin encourages students to remain self-reflective throughout the research process—something that other texts keep on the periphery.”

—Brandi Lawless, PhD, Department of Communication Studies, University of San Francisco