Abstract
In this chapter, we present a brief discussion about qualitative research, an approach widely used in social sciences to understand the phenomena that involve humans. Due to the importance given to the subjective perspective of the researcher and the participants being studied, this approach proved to be an important tool to understand the social relations of the most varied human groups. First, a brief history of qualitative research and its main features are presented. Then, we show the steps that the researcher must follow before starting his research. Finally, we have outlined some of the main methods used in qualitative research—ethnography, phenomenology, action research, grounded theory and case study—with some practical examples of how they can be used in ethnobiological studies.
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Notes
- 1.
In this chapter, “practitioners” are the actors involved in performing any research, teaching, or extension practice.
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Moura, J.M.B., da Silva, R.H., da Silva, N.A., de Sousa, D.C.P., Albuquerque, U.P. (2019). Preparation of Qualitative Research. In: Albuquerque, U., de Lucena, R., Cruz da Cunha, L., Alves, R. (eds) Methods and Techniques in Ethnobiology and Ethnoecology . Springer Protocols Handbooks. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8919-5_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-8919-5_1
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