Starting with what’s special about qualitative data, this book covers more than simply data collection. It guides you through skilfully, thoughtfully, and ethically designing a project, managing data, exploring records, creating and justifying sound theories, and reporting results in ways that will be heard. With a positive and jargon-free style, it discusses how setting up, working with, making sense of and presenting data can be a springboard into learning key research skills and reflecting on methodological issues. With even more material to help researchers navigate the practicalities of working with qualitative data, this edition includes: ‘To do’ lists and annotated further reading suggestions to help establish ethical practice Guidance on tackling emerging challenges in handling qualitative data, such as uses of visualisation and online data Advice for communicating data to different audiences and writing a convincing research report Online resources that illustrate effective qualitative research in action and aid researchers in their own work, including first-hand researcher accounts, qualitative analysis software support, step-by-step guidance on software use and visualising data, and examples of communicating real-world research effectively.