Peace and Conflict Studies Research

A Qualitative Perspective

Edited by:
Robin Cooper, Nova Southeastern University
Laura L. Finley, Barry University

A volume in the series: Peace Education. Editor(s): Laura L. Finley, Barry University.

Published 2014

This edited book is a new and valuable resource for students, teachers, and practitioners, providing a detailed exploration of how qualitative research can be applied in the field of peace and conflict studies. This book explores considerations and components of designing, conducting, and reporting qualitative research in this field, and also provide exemplars of recent empirical research in peace and conflict studies that employed qualitative methods. Scholars and researchers in peace and conflict studies and peace education face unique challenges in teaching, designing, and conducting qualitative research in these fields. This edited book discusses tips in designing qualitative studies in this area and for teaching emerging peace researchers best practices of qualitative inquiry. In addition, the book discusses some of the trends, challenges, and opportunities associated with research in peace and conflict studies and peace education.

Written at a level appropriate for both graduate students and active researchers, the primary audience for this book is those teaching and learning about the application of qualitative methods to peace and conflict studies, as well as those conducting research in this field. There are currently approximately 230 graduate programs in peace and conflict studies. This book also provides a useful tool for researchers and students in other academic disciplines who are interested in qualitative research. Such disciplines might include education, sociology, criminology, gender studies, psychology, political science, and others.

CONTENTS
Introduction: Exploring Qualitative Approaches to Researching Peace and Conflict, Robin Cooper and Laura Finley. Qualitative Research Design: Preparing to Study Conflict and Peace, Robin Cooper and Claire Michele Rice. Giving Voice: Using Grounded Theory to Examine Teachers’ Perceptions of School Violence and Responses to It, Laura Finley. Phenomenology in Peace and Conflict Studies Research: Getting to the Essence of an Experience, Robin Cooper. Painting the Whole Picture: Qualitative Case Study in Conflict Resolution, Ismael Muvingi and Cheryl Lynn Duckworth. 276 Cups of Tea: Ethnography in Peace and Conflict Research, Emily E. Welty. Their Lives, Our Peace: Narrative Inquiry in Peace and Conflict Studies, Patrick T. Hiller and Julia Chaitin. “Together We Can Do So Much”: Conducting Action Research Projects in Peace and Conflict Studies, Terry Morrow and Laura Finley. “We’ll Have to Reschedule the Interview; the Air Raid Siren Just Went Off Again:” Undertaking Qualitative Research in Conflict Zones, Julia Chaitin. Conclusions and Looking Forward, Laura Finley and Robin Cooper