Emic–Etic Distinction

Abstract

The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods presents current and complete information, as well as ready-to-use techniques, facts, and exam- ples from the field of qualitative research in a very accessible style. The volume is designed to appeal to undergraduate and graduate students, practitioners, researchers, consultants, and consumers of informa- tion across the social sciences, humanities, and health sciences. The encyclopedia provides a much more comprehensive examination of qualitative methods than is found in other published texts, as it is designed to appeal to readers across disciplines. In taking an interdisciplinary approach, this encyclopedia targets a much broader audience than other texts; it fills a gap in the existing reference literature for a general, inter- disciplinary guide to the core concepts that inform qualitative research practices. The entries cover every major facet of qualitative methods, including gaining access to research partici- pants, data coding, research ethics, the role of theory in qualitative research, and much more—all without overwhelming the informed reader.Although the range of topics is intended to be comprehensive, each indi- vidual entry is designed to provide only an introduc- tion to the topic at hand. Each entry is following by a list of key readings on the topic. In addition, entries may also contain the first and last names of scholars or mention key works that are not included in the Further Readings. These names and resources provide additional starting points for readers who want to identify additional sources on thematerial discussed in the entry by searching for these people and materials on the internet or in library collections.