Writing and Publishing Qualitative Research
Writing and Publishing Qualitative Research
Patricia Leavy
Ideal for graduate students and more seasoned qualitative researchers, this is the first guide to writing and publishing in a range of both scholarly and popular formats—from journal articles and monographs to op-eds and fictional works. Award-winning author Patricia Leavy covers everything from how to develop a unique writer’s voice to how to craft a successful book proposal, understand a publishing contract, establish relationships with editors, and much more. The book is filled with effective tools for using data and theory in different genres of writing, building a profile as a scholar, and getting research findings out into the world. Instructive features throughout include “dos and don’ts,” writing prompts, annotated sample letters and proposals, excerpts from published works, and end-of-chapter writing activities.
“A much-needed guide for students and early-career scholars.” —Season Ellison, PhD, Bemidji State University
“I will use this book in my own writing practice as well as my classroom. It’s not hyperbole to say that this work may change your professional life!”—Sandra L. Faulkner, PhD, Bowling Green State University
“This book is written in a great style that students will find relatable, unlike most of the academic literature on the topic. I will definitely use it to help my doctoral students find their voice and styles as writers.” —Veselina Lambrev, PhD, University of South Florida
“If you follow Leavy’s advice and make the exercises in this book habitual, you will increase your chances for success!” —Holly Anthony, PhD, Tennessee Tech University
REINVENTION
Re/Invention: Methods of Social Fiction
Patricia Leavy
Winner! 2022 Firebird Book Awards, First Place, Writing and Publishing, and Second Place, Book Cover Design Nonfiction
From Patricia Leavy, a leader in arts-based research, this is the first comprehensive guide to what social fiction is and how to write it. In an engaging, personal tone, Leavy explores the unique contribution that creative writing—such as novels, series, and short stories—can make to addressing qualitative research questions. In-depth discussions of narrative models (such as the three-act structure) and elements (such as plot, metaphor, dialogue) are accompanied by excerpts from Leavy’s published fiction, reflections on the writing process, and technical suggestions. The book offers evaluation criteria for social fiction as well as practical publishing advice. Instructive features include “tip bubbles” with additional writing hints, end-of-chapter “Skill Building” and “Rethink Your Research” exercises, and an appendix with suggested readings.
Praise for the Book
“Everything you need to know to write social fiction is in this book. One of the best-written methods books I have ever read, it is accessible, clear, and detailed. The examples demonstrate the fiction concepts, and the pedagogical elements provide valuable advice and questions to think about in order to get a writing project started.”— Sandra L. Faulkner, PhD, School of Media and Communication, Bowling Green State University
“This text would be great as either a supplemental text or central text for any course exploring truth and fiction. It is especially powerful for thinking about truth in inquiry. This book resonates well with our work through the Feminist Research Collective.”—Barbara Dennis, PhD, Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, Indiana University
METHOD MEETS ART
Method Meets Art: Arts-Based Research Practice Third Edition
Patricia Leavy
- Winner! 2021 USA Best Book Awards, Art
- Finalist! 2021 USA Best Book Awards, Performing Arts
(Second Edition) Winner! 2018 AERA Division D Significant Contribution to Educational Measurement and Research Methodology Award
Ideal for courses in multiple disciplines, the third edition of this award-winning text has been revised and updated with new topics, examples, and guiding questions to introduce each chapter’s sections. Patricia Leavy presents a practical guide to the full range of arts-based research (ABR) genres—narrative inquiry, fiction-based research, poetry, music, dance, theatre, film, and visual art. Each chapter is paired with an exemplary research article or online video link (at the companion website) that demonstrates the techniques in action. Following a consistent format, chapters review how each genre developed, explore its methodological variations and the kind of research questions it can address, and describe diverse sample studies. Checklists and practical advice help readers harness the power of these innovative techniques for their own studies or dissertations.
New to This Edition
* Covers additional ABR practices: concrete research poetry, musically enhanced narrative inquiry, community music projects, musical spoken word, scored transcripts, comics/graphic novels, wordless narrative research, and installation art.
* Discussions of research design, collaborative ABR, and ways to overcome common ABR challenges, plus tips for getting started.
* Numerous new research examples, including three new end-of-chapter exemplars.
* Increased attention to the impact of research, with a heightened focus on ethics, public scholarship, and issues of audience.
Pedagogical Features
* Checklists of issues to consider when deciding how to use a particular method.
* Discussion questions and activities for in-class use or assignment.
* Annotated lists of suggested readings and websites, including links to online performance pieces.
* Compelling research examples from multiple disciplines.
* Chapters follow a consistent format and can be read independently or in sequence; new guiding questions introduce sections within chapters.
Praise for the Book
“My students always love reading this book! With this text, I have a way to introduce students to more possibilities for doing and analyzing and sharing their work, often giving them permission to pay attention to the very parts of their research they thought they would need to omit. It is a paradigm shift—a real game-changer.” — Mindi Rhoades, Ph.D., Department of Teaching and Learning, The Ohio State University
“Leavy has managed to achieve the impossible—a seminal work that should be a required text in research courses across a wide range of disciplines, including fine arts, social sciences, mental health, and education.”—Cathy A. Malchiodi, PhD, Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute, Louisville, Kentucky
“Leavy’s contribution to ABR is nothing short of extraordinary, and her third edition of Method Meets Art is no exception. She continues to update the genre and subgenres by providing new exemplars that advance both theory and practice. I look forward to adding this volume to Leavy’s other publications on my ‘go-to’ shelf. In her search to find joy in her own research, Leavy has developed, supported, and promoted such joy within the ABR community and beyond.” —Joe Norris, PhD, Department of Dramatic Arts, Brock University, Canada
“Since the first edition, I have assigned this text in all my graduate research courses. It is required reading for each class session, paired with written responses applying the concepts and practices.”—Candace Jesse Stout, PhD, Department of Arts Administration, Education, and Policy (Emerita), The Ohio State University
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research Design: Quantitative, Qualitative, Mixed Methods, Arts-Based, and Community-Based Participatory Research Approaches, Second Edition
Patricia Leavy
- Winner (Third Place)! 2017 American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award, Nursing Research Category (refers to first edition)
- Finalist! 2017 USA Best Book Awards, Education/Academic (refers to first edition)
With a new chapter on the literature review, this accessible step-by-step guide to using the five major approaches to research design is now in a thoroughly revised second edition. The prior edition’s user-friendly features are augmented by a new companion website with worksheets keyed to each chapter. For each approach, the text presents a template for a research proposal and explains how to conceptualize and fill in every section. Interdisciplinary research examples draw on current events and social justice issues. Unique coverage includes hot topics—replication studies, data sharing, and preregistration; tailoring proposals to different audiences; and more. Terminology commonly used in each approach is identified and key moments of ethical decision making are flagged. The book includes a general introduction to social research, an in-depth discussion of ethics, and a chapter on how to begin a research study.
Pedagogical Features
*Multiple “Review Stops” in each chapter–quick quizzes with answer keys.
*End-of-chapter writing exercises, research activities, and suggested resources.
*Bold-face key terms and an end-of-book glossary.
*Boxed tips from experts in the respective approaches.* Instructor materials: Supplemental PowerPoint slides and chapter tests. Companion website with student worksheets. All supplemental materials author created.
Praise for the Book
“This is a ‘must-have’ book that undoubtedly will be required reading for students and researchers in psychology, social sciences, and education.” — Cathy A. Malchiodi, PhD, Trauma-Informed Practices and Expressive Arts Therapy Institute, Louisville, Kentucky
“I don’t know of any other methods texts that are so straightforward and at the same time so inclusive regarding design approaches.” — Kristina N. LaVenia, PhD, School of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Policy, Bowling Green State University
“… elegant, accessible writing and pragmatic content for students in the social and behavioral sciences… Leavy is an internationally renowned author who offers undergraduate and graduate students expert guidance on the templates necessary for initiating their studies.” — Johnny Saldaña, MFA, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts (Emeritus), Arizona State University
“In her own measured, methodologically ecumenical way, Leavy manages both to undo some of the stock presumptions of social science research and to radically widen the boundaries of legitimate modes of inquiry.” — Mark P. Freeman, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Ethics and Society, Department of Psychology, College of the Holy Cross
HANDBOOK of ARTS-BASED RESEARCH
Patricia Leavy (Editor)
- Winner! 2018 USA Best Book Award, education/academic
- Finalist! 2018 USA Best Book Awards, Anthologies– Nonfiction, Art, and Performing Arts
- Finalist! 2018 International Book Awards, Anthologies– Nonfiction, Art, Education/Academic, and Performing Arts
Bringing together interdisciplinary leaders in methodology and arts-based research (ABR), this comprehensive handbook explores the synergies between artistic and research practices and addresses issues in designing, implementing, evaluating, and publishing ABR studies. Coverage includes the full range of ABR genres, including those based in literature (such as narrative and poetic inquiry); performance (music, dance, playbuilding); visual arts (drawing and painting, collage, installation art, comics); and audiovisual and multimethod approaches. Each genre is described in detail and brought to life with robust research examples. Team approaches, ethics, and public scholarship are discussed, as are innovative ways that ABR is used within creative arts therapies, psychology, education, sociology, health sciences, business, and other disciplines. The companion website includes selected figures from the book in full color, additional online-only figures, and links to online videos of performance pieces.
Praise for the Book
“Renowned author and editor Leavy has assembled prominent artist-researchers—from educators and therapists to beyond—for this outstanding, innovative handbook. Like exceptional art, this handbook has magnitude, quality, and significance for researchers and students across multiple disciplines, including the social sciences, education, health care, business, humanities, media, and fine arts.” – Johnny Saldaña, MFA, School of Film, Dance, and Theatre (Emeritus), Arizona State University
“With this handbook, Leavy not only helps to define the field of ABR, but also encourages readers to imagine new ways of conducting and appreciating research.” – Ronald J. Chenail, PhD, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nova Southeastern University
“Leavy, a champion of ABR, has gathered leading scholars from around the world in this welcome contribution to our rapidly growing field… Traversing scholarly disciplines and art forms, this volume ushers ABR into its own as a new paradigm for research. It is a gift for anyone with a passion for bringing artistry to research.” – Diane Conrad, PhD, Department of Secondary Education (Drama/Theatre Education), University of Alberta, Canada
“…Superb… This is a work that will be read, reread, and referenced often, and that will help academics of all types understand and explain clearly to others how art can work to combine both ‘formula’ (that is, research analysis) and ‘soul.” – David A. Almeida, EdD, Department of Special Education, Bridgewater State University, Massachusetts
CONTEMPORARY FEMINIST RESEARCH from THEORY to PRACTICE
Patricia Leavy and Anne Harris
Exploring the breadth of contemporary feminist research practices, this engaging text immerses the reader in cutting-edge theories, methods, and practical strategies. Chapters review theoretical work from around the globe and describe approaches to conducting quantitative, qualitative, and community-based research with participants; doing content or media analysis; and evaluating programs or interventions. Ethical issues are addressed and innovative uses of digital media highlighted. The focus is studying gender inequities as they are experienced by individuals and groups from diverse cultural, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds, and with diverse gender identities. Delving into the process of writing and publishing feminist research, the text covers timely topics such as public scholarship, activism, and arts-based practices. The companion website features interviews with prominent feminist researchers.
Pedagogical Features
* Case examples of feminist research.
* Running glossary of key terms.
* Boxes highlighting hot topics and key points for practice.
* End-of-chapter discussion questions and activities.
* End-of-chapter annotated suggested reading (books, articles, and online resources).
* Sample letters to research participants.
* Appendix of feminist scholars organized by discipline.
Praise for the Book
“Leavy and Harris do a wonderful job of engaging the reader throughout the book…The structure of the book was a welcome relief…The advocacy, empowerment, and inclusion conversation woven throughout the book by Leavy and Harris are the golden nuggets that I will take from this read and build upon when re-reading the book and in my future learning.” —The Qualitative Report
“This is the new go-to text for feminist researchers at any stage.” – Barbara Gurr, PhD, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, University of Connecticut
“I have been teaching methods for 25 years, and this text far surpasses any I have used in the past. It is incredibly comprehensive, providing an overview of feminist theory as well as the directions needed to choose and employ various methods.” – Angela J. Hattery, PhD, Professor and Director, Women and Gender Studies Program, George Mason University
“This excellent introduction to feminist research is accessible to both undergraduates and graduate students. I recommend this book to any methods instructor who has a commitment to anti-oppressive research and social justice.” – Manal Hamzeh, PhD, Department of Interdisciplinary and Gender and Sexuality Studies, New Mexico State University
“A major strength of this book is that it showcases a variety of ways of presenting feminist research. The book will be useful for those instructors interested in teaching feminist research with actual case examples. The discussion questions, text boxes, and additional resources are very useful, moving us from theory to application.” – Venus E. Evans-Winters, PhD, Department of Educational Administration and Foundations, Illinois State University
“By merging critical feminist theory and research methods, this exciting book demonstrates how and why social research is political… one of the most inclusive texts on the market… an essential resource for new and advanced scholars.” – Tony E. Adams, PhD, Department of Communication, Bradley University
PRIVILEGE THROUGH the LOOKING-GLASS, Second Edition
Patricia Leavy (Editor)
Winner! 2018 USA Best Book Award, nonfiction anthologies (refers to 1st edition)
Privilege Through the Looking-Glass, Second Edition is a revised and expanded collection of original essays that explore privilege and status characteristics in daily life. This collection seeks to make visible that which is often invisible. It seeks to sensitize us to things we have been taught not to see. Privilege, power, oppression, and domination operate in complex and insidious ways, impacting groups and individuals. And yet, these forces that affect our lives so deeply seem to at once operate in plain sight and lurk in the shadows, making them difficult to discern. Like water to a fish, environments are nearly impossible to perceive when we are immersed in them. This book attempts to expose our environments. With engaging and powerful writing, the contributors share their personal stories as a means of connecting the personal and the public. This volume applies an intersectional perspective to explore how race, class, gender, sexuality, education, and ableness converge, creating the basis for privilege and oppression. Privilege Through the Looking-Glass encourages readers to engage in self and social reflection, and can be used in a range of courses in sociology, social work, communication, education, gender studies, and African American studies. Each chapter includes discussion questions and/or activities for further engagement.
Praise for the Book
“This is a powerful and important book about inequality, identity, agency, and the challenge of addressing difference as part of a democratic ethos in a time of growing authoritarianism all over the world. Every educator should read this book.” – Henry A. Giroux, Ph.D., Professor of English and Cultural Studies, McMaster University, and author of America at War with Itself
“. Privilege Through the Looking-Glass is a courageous volume that blends theory, personal experiences, and reflections on contemporary debates over identity. This is a book that is more about the politics of identity than identity politics. It is a powerful testament to the urgency of understanding privilege and deserves to be read widely.” – Peter McLaren, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor in Critical Studies, Chapman University, and author of Paulo Freire, Che Guevara and the Pedagogy of Revolution, and Pedagogy of Insurrection
“Privilege Through the Looking-Glass unmasks the casual “isms” that suppress the best aspects of our humanity, by assembling a powerful and honest collection of parables. Poignant and unflinching, the contributors eschew to the cloak of objectivism to give the hard truth about privilege as a social ill, and the collective responsibility of the conscious community to confront all forms of oppression. Stimulating to the highbrow, yet palatable to the lay, this book has lessons for anyone with the spirit to explore better ways to be themselves and relate to others.” – Ivory A. Toldson, Ph.D., Professor, Counseling Psychology Program, Howard University, and Editor-in-Chief for The Journal of Negro Education
ESSENTIALS of TRANSDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
Essentials of Transdisciplinary Research: Using Problem-Centered Methodologies presents an overview of transdisciplinarity as a problem-centered approach to research. Transdisciplinarity is a social justice-oriented approach to research and may provide a pathway for addressing major contemporary challenges such as sustainability, violence, unequal development and health and well-being. Essentials of Transdisciplinary Research provides a user-friendly guide to the key principles and research design strategies needed for building a transdisciplinary project. This book is ideal for researchers across the disciplines, graduate students designing theses projects and undergraduate courses in research methods, qualitative research, mixed methods, service learning or community-based research as well as any courses that emphasize critical thinking, problem solving, problem-based learning and/or research. Essentials of Transdisciplinary Research is essential reading for researchers and students in the social and behavioral sciences.
Praise for the Book
“Leavy’s text is necessary for researchers in both the humanities and the sciences interested in both the study of interdisciplinary research methods as well as their overall applicability to “real-world” problems.” – Daniel John Carroll, Ph.D.
“Leavy presents an exemplary and compelling performance of scholarly review, explanation, synthesis, and discussion …As Leavy understands with erudite and eloquent urgency, transdisciplinary research transcends the boundaries of disciplines in order to engage with the kind of essentially and ecologically connected research that can transform how we live together.” – Carl Leggo, Ph.D.
“Recommended” – Choice Magazine
HANDBOOK of EMERGENT METHODS
Sharlene Hesse-Biber and Patricia Leavy (Editors)
The Handbook of Emergent Methods (Guilford Press, 2008, now available in paperback) is the first book comprehensively examining emergent or innovative qualitative and quantitative theories and methods across the social and behavioral sciences. This handbook provides scholars and students with a variety of ways to retool their research choices in chapters written by leading researchers writing on the cutting-edge of methodology. The Handbook of Emergent Methods has been endorsed by renowned researchers including Bruce Berg, Davydd Greenwood, Valerie Janesick, Ruthellen Josselson and Janice Morse.
Praise for the Book
“Sharlene Hesse-Biber and Patricia Leavy have assembled a very interesting set of chapters, and even experienced researchers will find much to learn about emergent methods and much to consider about how they might use these in their own work.” — Sex Roles.
The National Library Association Choice Reviews, 2009, Highly Recommended
EMERGENT METHODS in SOCIAL RESEARCH
Sharlene Hesse-Biber and Patricia Leavy (Editors)
Emergent Methods in Social Research combines original, in-depth introductions with previously published and original contributor chapters on new and cutting-edge methods and methodologies.
Praise for the Book
“All of the book’s chapters are written with enthusiasm and an interest to stimulate researchers to make new uses of traditional data gathering methods and/or develop new ideas.” — Danuta A. Nitecki, Library and Information Science Research.