"Stretching" Exercises for Qualitative Researchers

In this updated version of her innovative and distinctive book, "Stretching" Exercises for Qualitative Researchers, author Valerie J. Janesick extends her dance and yoga metaphors to strengthen her argument that tapping into one's artistic side-the side that is more creative and less inhibited-is fundamental to realizing one's potential as a qualitative researcher. With a focus on developing habits of mind through intuition and creativity, this Third Edition provides a series of exercises that are both imaginative and immensely practical in helping students to see the artistic side of research and reflection. Thoroughly classroom tested, these exercises demystify the research process and help researchers become more active observers, interviewers, and learners as they develop and critique their habits of observation, questioning, creativity, writing, and analysis.

Valerie J. Janesick (PhD, Michigan State University) is Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, in the department of Leadership, Counseling, Adult, Career and Higher Education, LCACHE, University of South Florida, Tampa. She teaches classes in qualitative research methods, curriculum theory and inquiry, and ethics in leadership. Her latest book, "Contemplative Qualitative Inquiry: Practicing the Zen of Research (2015) Left Coast Press, argues for the use of Zen approaches to qualitative inquiry cast as Contemplative Qualitative Inquiry. Her chapters in the Handbook of Qualitative Research (first and second editions) use dance and the arts as metaphors for understanding research. Her book, Oral History for the Qualitative Researcher: Choreographing the Story (2010), Guilford Press, incorporates, poetry, photography and the arts to capture lived experience. She serves on the editorial board of The Qualitative Report, and the International Journal of Qualitative Methods. She continues to take classes in yoga and meditation.