Fostering Hope for a More Socially Just World: A Review of Corey Johnson and Diana Parry's Fostering Social Justice through Qualitative Inquiry: A Methodological Guide

Reviewer's Statement Imagine reading a book that reviews the basics of qualitative research, explains seven qualitative methodological approaches in detail, and provides an in-depth understanding of social justice through research. Fostering Social Justice Through Qualitative Inquiry: A Methodological Guide by Corey Johnson and Diana Parry is that type of book that challenges you intellectually while touching your heart and encouraging you to self-reflect over your own worldview. With the feeling of hope, Johnson and Parry (2015) and other contributors challenge readers to use qualitative research "to create a more socially just world" (p. 7). The authors leave readers with the necessary knowledge and skills for social justice researchers and the commitment to make our society more equitable. As a professor of curriculum to doctoral students, I decided to use this text for a Diversity in Education course because it allowed me to help students with their qualitative research skills while discussing diversity and social justice issues. This one textbook covers a variety of skill sets and supports students in their future writing of a dissertation. What Theoretical Perspectives Support Social Justice Inquiry? Parry and Johnson (2015) provide an overview of seven theoretical perspectives, which support qualitative research using a social justice paradigm. The seven theoretical perspectives are as follows: Marxism; Critical Race Theory (CRT); Feminism; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Theory; Queer Theory; Poststructural Theory; and Postcolonialism. The overviews provide enough information to help readers and students understand when to base a study on a respective theoretical perspective. For example, postcolonialism addresses "issues of power and knowledge while paying attention to both local and global contexts" (2015, p. 36). Critical Race Theory operates "with the understanding that the civil rights movement addressed only overt racism ... but the subtle racism that encompasses American society continues, supported by the legal system" (2015, p. 25). The theoretical perspectives chapter leaves readers with an overall understanding of all seven perspectives and the ability to apply that understanding to research that supports a more socially just society. What Are the Common Features of Qualitative Research? Although this book would not be the perfect textbook for a course that teaches the fundamentals of qualitative research, it does provide a foundation and overview of qualitative inquiry. The strength of this book is the integration of social justice and qualitative research and teaching students/researchers practical knowledge in the field. Johnson and Parry (2015) review basic qualitative concepts such as purpose statements, research questions, subjectivity, reflexivity, sampling, ethical considerations, data collection, data analysis, and authenticity. The section on data collection thoroughly explains different types of interviewing such as semistructured interviews and focus groups, which uses "groupthink to generate data: multiplicities of perspectives, confirmability, dissention, new ways of thinking, notable silences, and diversity of experience" (2015, p. 57). This section is thorough enough to help a student/researcher write a research proposal or for a seasoned researcher to review major qualitative research concepts before applying newfound research skills with a social justice paradigm. What Are Seven of the Most Common Qualitative Research Methodologies? Johnson and Parry (2015) provide an overview of the seven common qualitative research methodologies in an early chapter in their book: Grounded Theory, Phenomenology, Ethnography, Case Study, Historic Inquiry, Participatory Action Research, and Expressive Inquiry. Then, the authors dedicate a chapter for each research methodology by introducing the methodology, providing historical and disciplinary roots, sharing strategies of data collection and data analysis, and linking the methodology with social justice. …