Maxwell's Qualitative Research Design

Maxwell, J. A. (2005). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

What took me so long to get around to Maxwell? What a treat! Maxwell takes the reader on a productive (dare I say, pragmatic) journey through the research design process. While Maxwell is clear that this text is propaedeutic to the actual writing of a research proposal, I believe it goes well beyond the preparation needed for performance of an academic task. This text took me through writing activities and exercises that reminded me of Goodall (2000) and the emotive writing exercises associated with why we choose to study that which we choose to study.

Maxwell takes the reader through the process of research design that includes an articulation and critical review of one’s goals, relating to others’ and a design of one’s own conceptual framework, refining of research questions, determination and rationale for methods choices and an examination and addressing of threats to validity inherent in those methods. What a treat! It was like going back in time and asking myself, “What do you want to study when you grow up?” After treating each of the above steps in the design process in an independent chapter, Maxwell turns to a final chapter on turning this design into a research proposal. I’m ending the exercises with much more than an outline for a research proposal. I am concluding this valuable reading with a research agenda and the ability to articulate that plan to others. Yeah, Maxwell.

Goodall, Jr., H.L. (2000). Writing the new ethnography. Lanham, MD: AltaMira Press.