Modes of Thinking for Qualitative Data Analysis

Melissa Freeman is Professor of Qualitative Research Methodologies in the College of Education at The University of Georgia.

• ContentsList of Tables and FiguresPreface Introduction Why Focus on Analysis?Thinking, not Thought Brief Introduction to the Modes of ThinkingModes of Thinking for Qualitative Data Analysis The Modes of Thinking in Dynamic Relation Categorical Thinking Introduction to Categorical Thinking Characteristics of Categorical Thinking Categorical Thinking in Practice Deciding on Categorical Thinking for Analysis Narrative Thinking Introduction to Narrative Thinking Characteristics of Narrative Thinking Narrative Thinking in Practice Deciding on Narrative Thinking for Analysis Dialectical Thinking Introduction to Dialectical Thinking Characteristics of Dialectical Thinking Dialectical Thinking in Practice Deciding on Dialectical Thinking for Analysis Poetical Thinking Introduction to Poetical Thinking Characteristics of Poetical Thinking Poetical Thinking in Practice Deciding on Poetical Thinking for Analysis Diagrammatical Thinking Introduction to Diagrammatical Thinking Characteristics of Diagrammatical Thinking Diagrammatical Thinking in Practice Deciding on Diagrammatical Thinking for Analysis Teaching Qualitative Analysis On Diversity On TraditionOn Reflexive Dialogical Practice Final Thoughts List of Tables and FiguresTable 1.1: Modes of Thinking for Qualitative Data Analysis page xxTable 4.1: Two Approaches to Dialectical Thinking in Practice page xxFigure 1.1: Modes of Thinking in Dynamic Relation page xx Figure 2.1: Connecting Categories to Concepts page xx Figure 3.1: Dimensions of Plot page xx Figure 4.1: Dialectical Friction and Emergence page xxFigure 5.1: Poetics as Infinite Dialogue page xxFigure 6.1: A Phenomenon Becoming page xx

"We’ve long needed this book, a book which would take students and scholars alike through the complex process of doing qualitative analysis. Melissa Freeman’s Modes of Thinking for Qualitative Data Analysis meets these needs. Its creative, comparative focus on forms of thinking, from categorical, to narrative, dialectical, poetical, diagrammatical, opens new windows on how to interpret empirical material." – Norman K. Denzin, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign"Melissa Freeman has developed a compelling typology for understanding qualitative work... Her work counters the standard classifications which connect methods with a particular methodology or tradition and leads to confusion. Instead, she argues persuasively, and with examples, that for a truly reflexive stance and a critical understanding of research, researchers must engage in "pentimento," or must see again, to understand essences and create innovative possibilities." - Lynn Butler-Kisber, McGill University