Robert K. Yin, PhD, is Chairman of the Board and CEO of COSMOS Corporation, an applied research and social science firm that has been in operation since 1980. COSMOS has successfully completed hundreds of projects for government agencies, private foundations, and other entrepreneurial and nonprofit organizations. Dr. Yin has authored five books--including Case Study Research, now in its fifth edition--and over 100 peer-reviewed articles. His research has covered a wide array of fields, such as primary, secondary, and postsecondary education; health promotion, HIV/AIDS prevention, and substance abuse prevention; organizational development and program evaluation; neighborhood, community, and urban development; and technological innovation and communications.
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 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 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 Written from a practical, inductive, and adaptive perspective, this text offers the best blend of scholarly examples and commonsense advice that I've seen. The readability is excellent 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