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Longitudinal Qualitative Research: Analyzing Change Through Time

The heart and soul of Longitudinal Qualitative Research, as outlined by Saldaña in the opening chapter, is to produce a text that is “a supplement to introductory texts in qualitative inquiry or as a handbook for researchers conducting long term research.” Ultimately, he succeeds. One of the interesting issues is that Saldaña’s disciplinary background is theater studies. He states that his aim in qualitative research is a similar one to playwrights who aim to “create a unique, insightful, and engaging text about the human condition.” In my view, we can certainly be more creative in our writings, particularly methodology texts, but whether we do the same sort of writing is debatable. The book is organized into six chapters. After an Introduction in which the author outlines his personal motivation for Longitudinal Qualitative Research (LQR), Chapter 1 outlines his paradigm and methods by discussing three foundational principles for LQR: length of study, time, and change. Chapter 2 deals with the research design implications and Chapter 3 the data analysis models employed in LQR. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 explore framing questions, descriptive questions, and analytic and interpretive questions; although it is sensible to distinguish between different types of questions in research, the differences between them become more blurred in situated fieldwork practice. The chapters are well organized with diagrams and key phrases in italics adding explanatory power. The stylistic mix between discursive analysis and recipe guide, essential to methodology texts, is handled reasonably well. The concluding chapter, “Looking Back at the Journey,” concisely summarizes and concludes the arguments in the book. Running throughout the book, I find a recourse to grounded theory, with references to the later models. The evolutionary aspects of this popular research orientation can clearly be seen to be employed. What is also kept intact is the recourse to good scientific practice. Saldana ends the book stating: