This textbook introduces students, researchers, and activists to the practice of qualitative inquiry that contributes to fairness, freedom, and flourishing in community life.
The book takes a cyclical approach to research and action by using the metaphor of the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) and the day cycle (dawn, day, dusk, and dark) to organize the content and activities. It lays out the step-by-step process of community-based research projects and guides readers in how to plan projects with diverse partners, generate data while participating in direct action, reflect on experiences and analyze complex data, and share insights with others through various modes of writing and presentation. Specific skills include planning, fieldwork, interviewing, thematic analysis, modeling, writing, and presenting. This innovative book provides tools for readers to conduct qualitative research that generates knowledge that can aid policy change, political mobilization, social movements, and organizing to meet universal human needs and rights.
The book is tailored to advanced undergraduate and graduate students in qualitative research methods courses in communication studies, sociology, education, social work, and public health and is also useful for professionals who use inquiry in their occupation, such as program design/evaluation, solidarity/solutions journalism, nonprofit leadership, and community development.
Online resources, including worksheets, lecture slides, facilitation tools, and sample assignments, are available at www.routledge.com/9780367567651
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
What Is This Book?
Qualitative Inquiry
What is Qualitative Inquiry?
Elements of a Qualitative Project
Combining the Benefits of Qualitative Inquiry
Social Justice
Conditions of a Just Society
Being Responsive to Injustice
Scope
Combining the Multiple Accounts of Justice
Qualitative Inquiry for Social Justice
Participation, Action, Community
Data, Democracy, and Design
Qualitative Justice
Cycles of Seasons and Days
The Cycle of Seasons
Seasonal Layout of the Book
The Day Cycle
At the End of the Day, What Will You Create?
Winter Ends
Section 1: Spring
2. Planning
Basics of a Research Project
Planning the Framework
Inspirations
Questions, Problems, and Assets
Grounded, Theory-Driven, Or Iterative Approach
Narrowing Down
Creating Partnerships and Asking Permission
Planning the Data
Types of Data
Considering Data Foci
Estimating How Much Data
Planning the Analysis
Planning the Outcomes
Representations
Other Considerations
Roles and Authorship on a Team
Institutional Support and Requirements
Planning to be Flexible
Reading Scholarly Literature
Why to Read
When to Read
What to Read
How to Read
How to Take Notes
Designing Activist Efforts
Universals of Community Planning
Communities Initiating Inquiry
Planning Day Cycle
What Will You Create?
3. Commitments
Elements of Scholarly Commitments
Epistemology
Ontology
Axiology
Methodology
Specific Scholarly Commitments
Community/Participatory
Materialism
Social Constructionism
Experience-Centered
Action-Centered
Indigenous and Decolonial
Critical
Commitment Mash-Ups
Elements of Activist Commitments
Issues
Sectors
Communicative Strategy
Scope
Institutional Trajectories
Specific Activist Commitments
Direct Action
Solidarity/Personalist
Community Development
Abolition
Service
Liberation
Social Entrepreneurship
Labor
Other Activist Approaches
Commitments Day Cycle
What Will You Create?
4. Standards
Academic Ethical Standards
Ethical Principles
Situated Ethics
Relational Ethics
Procedural Ethics
Discipline-Specific Standards
Pulling it All Together
Qualitative Research Standards
Worthy Topic
Rich Rigor
Sincerity
Credibility
Resonance
Significant Contribution
Meaningful Coherence
Speaking Plainly about Academic Standards
Activist Ethical Standards
Relationships
Partnerships
Community Rights
Power
Decolonial
Antiracist
Trauma-Informed Participation
Standards of Effective Activism
Fairness
Freedom
Fellowship
Flourishing
Pulling the Four Fs Together
Thinking about Activist Success Concretely
Standards Day Cycle
What Will You Create?
Spring Ends
Section 2: Summer
5. Fieldwork
What Is Fieldwork?
Field
Fieldwork
Roles/Activities
Observation
Reflexivity
Writing
Approaches to Fieldnotes and Journals
Record
Narrate
Explore
Express
Analyze
Blending the Five Fieldnote Approaches
Other Considerations
Thinking Reflexively About Fieldnotes
Solo vs. Collaborative Fieldnotes
Activism in the Field
What Is My Activist Role?
Activist Goals in the Field
Staying Safe in the Field
Critically Evaluating Participation
Fieldwork Day Cycle
What Will You Create?
Should I Include Fieldwork in My Research?
6. Interviews
Designing Qualitative Interviews
Individual vs. Focus Group Interviews
Designers and Coordinators
Interviewers/Facilitators
Participants
Setting
Recording
Cultural Context
Permissions
Interview Structure
Interview Relationships
Teaching/Learning
Mutual Collaboration
Confrontation
Interview Content
Question-Based Conversations
Prompt- and Activity-Based Conversations
Interview Skills
Listening
Facilitation Skills
Activist Conversations
Institutional Change
Motivational Interviewing
Working Groups
Community Conversations
Healing/Growth Groups
Transformational Conversations
Example: Radical Imagination
Opening Material
Build!
Debrief
Document
Relevance in Activist Context
Interview Day Cycle
What Will You Create?
Should I Include Interviews in My Research?
7. Media
Types of Media
Social Media and News Media
Organizational Texts/Media
Visual Media
Academic Literature
A Splendid Array of Other Media
The Role of Media in a Project
Sole Data Type
One Data Type Among Others
Media as Background
Part of Another Data Type
Examples of Integration and Exploration
Curating Media Data
Explore and Consider (Dawn)
Engage and Select (Day)
Organize and Evaluate (Dusk)
Store, Secure, and Preserve (Dark)
Producing Media Data
Researcher Produced
Participant Produced
Ethical Considerations
Overt vs. Covert
Exposure vs. Protection
Proprietary vs. Open Use
Engaging Media as an Activist
Transformative Texts
Social Media
Sector-Focused Media
Choosing What Media to Engage
Media Day Cycle
What Will You Create?
Summer Ends
Section 3: Autumn
8. Themes
Qualitative Themes
Themes
Data
Close Reading
Codes/Tags
Memoing
Thematic Summary
Preparing Data
Organizing
Transcribing
Evaluating Data
Making an Analytic Plan
Exploring Possible Themes
Crafting Themes from Data
Crafting Themes From Theories
Crafting Themes Iteratively
Solidifying Themes
Defining Themes
Coding Comprehensively
Assessing Themes
Modifying Themes
Other Considerations
Using Crafts and Computers in Thematic Analysis
Thinking Reflexively About Analysis
Solo vs. Collaborative Analysis
Analyzing Themes and Activism
Summative Thinking
Identifying Trends
Radical Analysis
Analyzing Policy
Theme Day Cycle
What Will You Make?
Should I Perform a Thematic Analysis?
9. Claims
Qualitative Claims
Purpose of a Claim
Focus of a Claim
Structure of a Claim
Claims Speak to Other Ideas
Degrees of Confidence
Making Claims
Inductive Reasoning
Abductive Reasoning
Deductive Reasoning
Claims About Themes
Flip the Script
Participatory Claim Making
Deepening Claims
Negative Case Analysis
Carrying Claims
Participant Feedback
Situating Claims
Conceptual Cocktail Party
Jeopardy Research Questions
An Extended Example
Activist Claim Making
Purpose
Resonance
Persuasion
Claim Making Day Cycle
What Will You Create?
Should I Use Claim-Making Techniques?
10. Models
Qualitative Models
What Is a Qualitative Model?
Data Visualization
Diagrams
Artistic Interpretation
Exploratory Modeling
Arts and Crafts
Digital Tools
Artistic Synthesis
Exploring Causality
Exploring Discourse
Solidifying Models
Building a Prototype
Evaluate the Model
Finalizing the Model
Theorizing Through Modeling
Activist Modeling
Maps
Program Models
Portrait-Based Design
Visionary Fiction
Models Day Cycle
What Will You Create?
Autumn Ends
Section 4: Winter
11. Writing
Writing Strategy
Thinking about Audience
Central Concept
Arrangement/Format
Social Scientific Format
Creative Nonfiction Format
Written Content
Main Argument
Rationale
Context/Review of Literature
Methodologies
Findings/Results
Implications/Significance
Writing Process
Questions That Guide Approach
The Through Line
Revision
Editing
Following the Academic Style Format
Solo vs. Collaborative Writing
Activist Writing
Activist Audiences
Rhetorical Strategies for Activist Writing
Activist Language
Ethics of Writing
Writing Day Cycle
What Will You Create?
Should I Write?
12. Presentations
Academic Presentations
Strategy
Concept
Arrangement
Content
Delivery
Types of Presentation
Oral Presentation
Embodied Presentation
Visual Presentation
Artistic Presentation
Digital Presentation
Presenting as an Activist
Strategy
Concept
Arrangement
Content
Delivery
Activist Storytelling
Presentations Day Cycle
What Will You Create?
13. Rest
Rest in Inquiry
Getting It Wrong
Strategies for Resting
Summative Thinking
Community Care
Restorative Practice
Fucking Off
Reconnecting from Separation
Setting Boundaries
Abandoning a Project
Sustaining Scholarly Trajectories
Break It Up
Scholarly Trajectories and Bodies of Work
Standards of Productivity and Impact
Resting as an Activist
Strategies for Activist Rest
Healing
Strategizing for the Long Term
Rest Day Cycle
What Will You Create?
Winter Ends
Index
Biography
Tim Huffman is an Associate Professor in communication studies at Saint Louis University, USA.
“If you want to create justice and action with your qualitative inquiry, you have found your perfect book! In this engaging field guide, Timothy Huffman provides solid tips, conceptual development, and engaging examples for conducting activist qualitative research. This practical research toolkit is a gift to all those committed to liberation, transformation, and advocacy.”
Sarah Tracy, Ph.D., Director of the Hugh Downs School of Communication, Arizona State University, USA
“Research in higher education has long been at a standstill. Our students want and need more tools to conduct the work they dream of—the kind of life-changing research that will change the world. What Dr. Huffman offers in this text is a portal to the future. He seamlessly carries us through the seasons of change, growth, and knowledge creation from a place of love, compassion, and a deep commitment to humanity's survival and future thriving.”
Amber Johnson, Ph.D., Executive Director of The Institute for Healing Justice and Equity, Founding Director of the Justice Fleet
“Qualitative Inquiry for Social Justice outlines a vision of qualitative research that is both exacting and responsive to the emotionality of the human condition that is so urgent in our times. Tim Huffman systematically offers qualitative research as an activist affect; with a criticality of intention to transform self and society with the intentionality of research in academic environs and the boots-to-the-streets drive of activist intervention, to transform society in a performative act of justice for all.”
Bryant Keith Alexander, PhD, Dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts, Loyola Marymount University, USA
“As a qualitative scholar with a research focus on social justice, I have never read a text that marries the two… until now. Tim’s emphasis on the four seasons of the research process adds a focus that no other qualitative texts have. Starting from planning a social justice centered research design in the Spring all the way to resting in the Winter, this text is perfect for developing a holistic researcher with a larger purpose to produce meaningful research for both academia and the community.”
Jasmine T. Austin, Ph.D., Texas State University, USA
“Beginning with its title—Qualitative Inquiry for Social Justice— Tim's book makes visible ways to bring intelligence and strategy to collective planning. He shares strategies for developing visual models for decision processes and how to facilitated the use of data and inquiry to change practices and policies that lead to outcomes. This book provides tangible tools and tactics that invite others to join him in this crossroads of action and evidence.”
Judy Perlman, Consultant
“Qualitative inquiry is critical to better understanding the lived experiences of those living with identities that have been historically marginalized and dehumanized. The various methods presented, the careful consideration of context, and thoughtful explanation of implementation illustrate what a process that creates, supports, and sustains social justice! In a time of deep identity divisions and polarization scholars, and our students, will benefit from this thorough examination of practical, applied research methods that not only reveal what is needed to bridge understanding across identity differences but also helps guide us to engage in the collective action of activism that leads to transformation.”
Karla Scott, Ph.D., Saint Louis University, USA