Qualitative Longitudinal Research: Research Methods

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First published Open Access under a Creative Commons license as What is Qualitative Longitudinal Research, this title is now also available as part of the Bloomsbury Research Methods series. This volume offers a new introduction to an evolving research method in the social sciences. Qualitative Longitudinal (QL) research is conducted through time. In its qualitative dimensions it opens up the potential to think dynamically in creative, flexible and innovative ways. QL enquiry is rooted in a long-established tradition of qualitative temporal research, spanning the fields of social anthropology, sociological re-studies and biographical research. But over the past two decades, a growing body of scholarship has begun to document this approach and explore its theoretical underpinnings. This in turn has fuelled a growing interest in and rapid uptake of QL methodology across the disciplines and in international context. This practical volume will be a first port of call for students and researchers wishing to use QL research in their own projects. The chapters follow a logical development, from conceptual and methodological foundations, to research practice and ethics, to the generation and analysis of data. Each chapter offers practical examples drawn from the research field to illustrate key themes and the rich possibilities for new applications.

Reviews

Bren Neale, one of the worlds foremost authorities on qualitative longitudinal research, is the perfect author for this volume. She brings a wealth of accumulated expertise and insight into this elegant, multidisciplinary overview of a challenging form of inquiry. The scholarship is rigorous yet accessible for researchers interested in conducting long-term studies of human and social development through time. * Johnny Saldaa, Professor Emeritus, Arizona State University, USA *
Qualitative longitudinal research illuminates relationships between biography and history. At modest cost, it complements large-scale cohort studies by providing, in particular, unique insights into causal processes. Bren Neale has provided a much needed guide to the key conceptual, methodological and practical issues in carrying out QL research. This book will be a huge help to everyone setting out on the QL path. * Andrew Pollard, Professor of Education, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, UK, and the University of Bristol, UK *

Author Bio

Bren Neale is Emerita Professor of Life Course and Family Research at the University of Leeds, UK, and was Director of the ESRC funded Timescapes Study from 2007-2012.