Learning Objectives

Chapter overview and goals

After reading this chapter, you will have a better understanding of:

  • A range of methods and techniques for generating qualitative data including interviews, observation and fieldnotes, focus groups, questionnaires, documents and archival data, and participatory methods
  • The key values and characteristics of these different methods and techniques for generating qualitative data
  • The considerations for and strengths and challenges of each of these qualitative data collection methods
  • How to critically examine the data you generate and the ways that you, as the researcher, influence these data
  • The roles and uses of technology and social media in data collection
  • The centrality of research questions to research design and data collection
  • Ways to make sure that your methods align with your research questions