Welcome!

Welcome to my blog about qualitative inquiry. I began writing in April 2009 about teaching and mentoring qualitative research and my work as faculty coordinator of the Center for Qualitative Inquiry at Texas Woman’s University, Denton Texas USA. An overreaching goal is to open up dialogue. I look forward to your comments. I won’t include ads but if you enjoy my blog please take a moment to visit my profile at Scribnia.com and rate my blog.  Read More

IIQM – A model for excellence

As I’ve written before, few university centers exist that support qualitative research. The University of Alberta sponsors an Interdisciplinary Center called the International Institute for Qualitative Methodology. In addition to providing faculty support, the center sponsors an annual conference and a journal that is free to subscribers. Why do I have a photo of a suitcase? Because I REALLY want to visit their center to share experiences and learn more about their center.... Read More

Centers, conferences, & focus groups

The International Institute of Qualitative Inquiry is based at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champain USA. Dr. Norm Denzin is the director of the center. The center sponsors an annual conference. The Sixth International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry will be held May 26-29, 2010. I was pleased to learn that Drs. Greg Dimitriadis & George Kamberelis will be leading a workshop session entitled: The Critical Use of Focus Groups. Focus group research has gained tremendous... Read More

Looking outside the U.S.A.

An important component in providing support to researchers at Texas Woman’s University’s Center for Qualitative Inquiry is to share resources. We try to support novice qualitative researchers by directing their gaze toward resources available within and outside the USA. For example, in a recent Weekly Qualitative Report, The Centre for Narrative Research, at the University of West London, U.K. is featured.  Read More

My “telling case” continued

I began by writing a proposal that laid out current needs. Setting up a needs statement requires identifying the gaps in services and support. That was not difficult. At the time, the only research software provided to faculty and students was for SPSS for statistical analysis. Like most universities, faculty made individual decisions and purchases of qualitative research software out of personal funds or grants. Qualitative researchers worked in relative isolation. I had to learn... Read More