Understanding qualitative research as a constituent to university appraisal: A textual analysis of Using Qualitative Methods in Institutional Assessment.

Using Qualitative Methods in Institutional Assessment supports the application of qualitative research methods across the spectrum of higher education, including the areas of assessing academic success, student retention, minority students, student learning, and teaching effectiveness. The book covers specific areas of interest to higher education professionals in colleges and universities across the United States including the following qualitative assessment paradigms: (a) incorporating student learning assessments into curriculum, (b) assessing student trajectory, (c) assessing student support services, and (d) assessing teaching effectiveness. The edited chapters in the book provide the reader with the opportunity to investigate addressing institutional assessment needs by way of qualitative research, illustrating that it will be insufficient for higher education institutions to rely solely on quantitative measures to appraise institutional effectiveness.