Below are screenshots providing examples of how to search Newman Library databases for articles about or using qualitative research methods.

Try a simple search. Type in the qualitative research method you are exploring. This example uses "in-depth interviews."

You can browse a list of qualitative research methods. (1) Click on the "Methods Map" button (2) Select "Qualitative methods" (3) Then choose either "Qualitative data analysis" or "Qualitative data collecting" (4) View a list of methods and select one from the list. For example: Case study, Coding, Ethnomethodology, Focus groups, Narrative research, and etc.

"Qualitative research" is an official subject heading in Business Source Complete. Type "qualitative research" in the box and then change the field to "SU subject terms." You can add more search terms in the other boxes. For this example I used "corporate communications." Try other terms that reflect your topic (newsletters, organizational communication, social media) or your specific method (interviewing, focus groups, participant observation).

"Qualitative research" is an official subject heading in ABI/INFORM Global. Type "qualitative research" in the box and then change the field to "Subject heading (all) - SU." You can add more search terms in the other boxes. For this example I used "social media." Try other terms that reflect your topic (newsletters, organizational communication, corporate communication) or your specific method (interviewing, focus groups, participant observation).

In PsycINFO, you can limit your search to only find articles using qualitative research methods.

This search in JSTOR will find articles that: (1) have either the exact phrase "corporate social responsibilty" or the word CSR in the abstract of the article (2) the word communication in the abstract of the article (3) and any of the following words somewhere within the text of the article: qualitative, case study, survey, interivew, focus group. Lastly, this search was limited to only find articles within the database,and not find books, reviews, and etc.

*Note: the use of OR within the search boxes tells the database to find any of the words, and not all of the words. Also, "or" does not need to be capitalized.

Searching within an abstract is a good way to find articles that focus on your concepts (search terms). The type of research method used by an author may not be mentioned in an abstract, but will be mentioned within the article, usually in the research methods section of an article.