Methods of Inquiry

Rudestam, Kjell Erik. (2001). Surviving your Dissertation. A comprehensive Guide to Content and Process. Second edition. Sage Publications, Inc. USA.

Chapter 3. Methods of Inquiry
Quotes
The dissertation process is a ritual of socialization into that community of scholars, so it is necessary for you as a student, to master the scholarly procedures within your discipline. P23

• Qualitative research Traditions. Phenomenology (it attempts to describe and elucidate the meanings of human experience.), Hermeneutics (interpretation of texts) Ethnographic Inquiry (anthropological observations, naturalistic research, field research, participant observations). Cf. P39-42
• Action research has been defined as a form of research that generates knowledge claims for the express purpose of taking action to promote social change and social analysis. P50
• The typical steps in action research can be listed as follows.

1. Identify a problem area
2. Form hypotheses or predictions that imply a goal and a procedure for achieving it.
3. Carefully record the actions taken and desired goal
4. Form inferences based on the data relating the actions taken to the extent of achieving the desired goal
5. Continue retesting the generalization in the situation in an ongoing iterative process. P50.
Alberto Ramirez Martinell