ABSTRACT
Many beginnings are precarious. According to Gadamer (1960/1992), “The problem of the beginning is, in fact, the problem of the end. For it is with respect to an end that a beginning is defined” (p. 472). How does a researcher negotiate the precariousness of beginning a study? How does one arrive at a completed, worthy, qualitative study? It is imperative that those who engage in qualitative inquiry address both fundamental and complex defining features. These features include situating the research in a grounding perspective that is congruent with or adds to the research design, including how one designs a research question and selects, interprets, and represents participants. Making appropriate choices about collecting, managing, and analyzing data while also meeting the obligations of conducting high quality inquiry are also fundamental features. Negotiating these complex features determines the quality and worthiness of the research study; yet surprisingly, these features continue to be often overlooked by many researchers who attempt to conduct qualitative studies.
