Psychology in India, Volume 4

4

Qualitative Methods in Psychology: An Overview

Anand Prakash^*

INTRODUCTION

This chapter aims at delineating the trends in the use of qualitative research methods (QRMs) in psychological research in India during the period 1993 to 2003. It is divided into two parts. Part I presents the disciplinary matrix within which these methods are introduced and used. In particular, broader metatheoretical and methodological assumptions and practices are examined. Part II provides an overview of the studies undertaken in the qualitative tradition. Before venturing further, it is pertinent to clarify that QRMs are used in many ways (see also Suar & Puhan, in this volume). Thus, while some researchers use them as additional tools to supplement an otherwise ...