Qualitative Studies in Quality of Life: Methodology and Practice

This volume explores the use and relevance of qualitative methods for the study of quality of life. It analyzes the role of qualitative researcher and the role of the context and the culture in quality of life studies. It presents the use of qualitative methods in real projects carried out in specific fields: geography, health, community studies, labor life and yoga. Finally, the book proposes the use of mixed methods that are considered as the third methodological approach in social research.

The main purpose of using qualitative methods is to understand what it means for participants to be involved in certain events, situations and actions. Such methods help understand the context in which participants act and the influence of that context on their actions. The decision to use a particular methodology implies a philosophic, theoretical and political decision. Qualitative methodology constitutes an approach that is essential for understanding people’s experiences of well-being and discovering new issues related to quality of life.

Graciela H. Tonon is PhD in Political Sciences, Magister Political Sciences and Social worker. Her interest areas are: quality of life, qualitative research methodology, human development, young people, children, politics. Actually she is Vice-president of External Affairs of International Society for Quality of Life Studies. Information Officer at the Human Development and Capability Association. Member of the Executive Committee of Childwatch International Research Network. Primary Researcher International Well-being group, Member of Capability Measurement Project (Open University, UK). Director of UNI-COM (university-community), Director Research Program in Quality of Life and Director Quality of Life Post-doctoral Studies Program Faculty of Social Sciences. Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora, Argentina. Director of the Center of Social Sciences Research (CICS) and Director of the Journal of Social Sciencse, Faculty of Social Sciences, Universidad de Palermo, (Argentina). Professor of Community Social Work, Thesis of Magister and Children and Young people in risk in the Faculty of Social Sciences of Universidad Nacional de Lomas de Zamora. Professor of Qualitative Methodology in Universidad de Palermo (Argentina) and Universidad Nacional de La Matanza, Argentina. Chair of the Editorial Board of International Handbooks of Quality of Life. Book Review Editor Applied Research in Quality of Life (ARQOL). Editorial Board Member New Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well being Research. Member Editorial Board Journal of Social Research and Policy. Universidad de Oradea. Romania. Member Editorial Board International Journal of Happiness and Development (IJHD) Trent University, Canada. Author of 15 books and 37 scientific articles in Spanish and English. Director of Doctoral Thesis and Thesis of Magister Programs in different universities of Latin America. Director of 25 research projects at different universities of Argentina. Member of National University Evaluation Committees in Argentina.