Modes of Thinking for Qualitative Data Analysis argues for engagement with the conceptual underpinnings of five prominent analytical strategies used by qualitative researchers. Melissa Freeman describes the core characteristics of each analytical strategy or mode of thinking in relation to its aim and action and then illustrates each using examples from a range of disciplines. Providing these modes of thinking in one text contributes to a deeper understanding of their distinct theoretical and methodological contributions to research as well as the potential and challenge of combining them. Experienced qualitative researchers, novices, and graduate students from many disciplines will gain new insight from the theory-practice relationship of analysis advanced. This book
introduces five dominant modes of thinking in qualitative data analysis: categorical thinking, narrative thinking, dialectical thinking, poetical thinking, and diagrammatical thinking
