In this fifth edition of his field-defining text, David Silverman, a true guru of qualitative research, walks the reader through the basics of gathering and analyzing qualitative data. The book offers beginners unrivalled hands-on guidance to help them get the best out of a research methods course or research project.

New to the fifth edition:

• A streamlined structure to aid navigation and guide readers smoothly through the research process.


• A new chapter on generalizing from case-study research which addresses the perennial issue of ‘how many cases do you need?’


• New material on doing qualitative research online and the ethics of internet research.


• Additional sections covering organizational documents and documents of everyday life, including blogs and diaries.


• Many more recent case study examples drawn from a broad range of disciplines including business, education, social work and geography as well as health studies.


• A new and improved companion website, full of additional resources for students and lecturers.

This is the perfect companion for all those new to qualitative research.

Available with Perusall—an eBook that makes it easier to prepare for class

Perusall is an award-winning eBook platform featuring social annotation tools that allow students and instructors to collaboratively mark up and discuss their SAGE textbook. Backed by research and supported by technological innovations developed at Harvard University, this process of learning through collaborative annotation keeps your students engaged and makes teaching easier and more effective. Learn more.