This book provides students and first-time researchers with a clear and accessible introduction to the practice of qualitative social research. The author focuses on the key issues which need to be identified and resolved in the qualitative research process and which will help the potential researcher to develop the skills they need.

The accomplished qualitative researcher needs to think and act strategically when carrying out research but should also be responsive to the changing contexts and conditions under which that research is conducted. This requires the researcher to combine intellectual, philosophical, technical, practical and ethical concerns. This book highlights the `difficult' questions that researchers should get into the habit of asking themselves in the course of doing qualitative research, and outlines the implications of the different ways of resolving them.