This edition has been extensively revised and updated to give the reader an essential introduction into the major qualitative research methods and schools of thought. These relate to ethnography, grounded theory and phenomenology. It then focuses on the principles of carrying out research, collective data and data analysis, and concludes with an expanded chapter on reporting qualitative research more effectively. This accessible text will be an invaluable source of information for students of nursing and health sciences, and those beginning research and clinical researches.