Education: Boost Your Intelligence

The following comments were submitted by a student the first time I used Dr. Hatch’s excellent text–Jim Horn

This book provided a rich description of qualitative research and an easy to understand roadmap for students embarking on the process of conducting a qualitative research study. Hatch took a difficult subject and made it accessible to novice researchers by providing an in-depth, well-thought out presentation of how to go about conducting research step by step in a logical manner. It was thorough from beginning to end. It also spoke to the individual, unique personal qualities and characteristics of the researcher that is inherent to the research. Therefore, it offered us an opportunity to do some real soul-searching and see ourselves in a different light.

It was easy to read and understand and organized well. I thought the section about writing and Hatch’s personal experiences were very valuable not only for researchers but for those who wish to write or improve their writing skills in general. The data analysis chapter was extremely helpful during the data analysis process because it provided clear, easy-to-follow steps. I used it as a guide and a reference for my project.

One suggestion is that the section on research paradigms might be a little difficult for some students who are not familiar with the meaning of ontology and epistemology. In our class, a number of students noted they had a hard time understanding these concepts so it might be helpful if there was a paragraph that explains these concepts leading into the connection to the various paradigms.

Overall, this is an excellent introduction for students to the various steps in the process. It was enjoyable to read, enlightening and it gave me a solid foundation for conducting my own study. I loved the book and I enjoyed doing qualitative research. It was also helpful . . . to enable us to delve deeply into the challenging and exciting experience of conducing qualitative research. The book and Dr. Horn also provided a good contextual framework for different methodologies as well.

The importance of qualitative research in education settings can not be underestimated in world in which children are often reduced to nothing but a number on a standardized test score. Thank you, Dr. Hatch, for giving us this wonderful gift and thank you Dr. Horn for sharing it with us.

Judy Rabinowitz

Monmouth University
Rating: 5 / 5

As a new qualitative researcher, finding Dr. Hatch’s book “cleared the clouds” and provided an easy to read support for all the processes necessary to be successful with a qualitative research project, especially for dissertation students. After reading all the classics (Yin, Creswell, Denzin, Lincoln, Stake, Miles and Hubermann, etc) Hatch brings it all together and provides solid questions for you to evaluate your own work before sending it into your committee. Must have for new qualitiative researchers!
Rating: 5 / 5