Bringing the various elements of qualitative research papers into coherent textual patterns presents challenges for authors and editors alike. Although individual sections such as presentation of the problem, review of the literature, methodology, results, and discussion may each be constructed in a sound logical and structural sense, the alignment of these parts into a coherent mosaic may be lacking in many qualitative research manuscripts. In this paper, four editors of The Qualitative Report present how they collaborate with authors to facilitate improvement papers’ coherence in such areas as co-relating title, abstract, and the paper proper; coordinating the method presented with method employed; and calibrating the exuberance of implications with the essence of the findings. The editors share exercises, templates, and exemplary articles they use to help mentor authors to create coherent texts.
Keywords
Qualitative Research, Writing, Coherence
Author Bio(s)
Dr. Ronald J. Chenail is Co-Editor of The Qualitative Report and The Weekly Qualitative Report at Nova Southeastern University (NSU). He also serves as the Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and Director of NSU’s Graduate Certificate in Qualitative Research. He can be contacted at 3301 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796 USA; Telephone: 954.262.5389; Fax: 954.262.3970; E-mail: ron@nova.edu. Dr. Maureen Duffy is Co-Editor of The Qualitative Report and The Weekly Qualitative Report at NSU. She teaches in NSU’s Graduate Certificate in Qualitative Research and is a family therapist and consultant in private practice, She can contacted at 501 Grand Concourse, Miami Shores, FL 33138 USA; Telephone: 305.335.8043; Fax: 305.758.6276; E-mail: mwhelehan@gmail.com. Dr. Sally St. George is Co-Editor of The Qualitative Report and The Weekly Qualitative Report at NSU. She is also Director of Graduate Student Affairs and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. She can be contacted at the University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive NW; Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 1N4; Telephone: 403-220-3884; Email: sstgeor@ucalgary.ca. Dr Dan Wulff is Co-Editor of The Qualitative Report and The Weekly Qualitative Report at NSU. He is also Associate Professor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary.He can be contacted at the University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW; Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 1N4; Telephone: 403-220-8227; Email: dwulff@ucalgary.ca. This paper was presented May 4, 2007, at the Third International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois USA. The authors would like to thank the members of The Qualitative Report’s Editorial Board and the authors who have submitted their papers to the journal and who have participated in the journal’s review process and to our students who have challenged us to find words of assistance and encouragement in order to help them develop their own voices as qualitative researchers.
Chenail, R. J.,
&
St. George, S.
(2009).
Facilitating Coherence across Qualitative Research Papers.
The Qualitative Report,
13(4), 32-44.
https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2009.2825
Comments
Original volume and issue number from The Qualitative Weekly, an offshoot publication of The Qualitative Report which has been folded into the primary journal: Volume 2, Issue 6
Comments
Original volume and issue number from The Qualitative Weekly, an offshoot publication of The Qualitative Report which has been folded into the primary journal: Volume 2, Issue 6