ABSTRACT
The overall significance of any study is never realized fully until one understands the research methods and procedures used in the research investigation. Qualitative research implies a scientific inquiry method that places an emphasis on processes and meanings. Qualitative research models seek to uncover patterns of relationships among the voices of participants within the community. The research study was designed to help student affairs professionals understand the nature of this transaction so as to maximize the learning experience for their students. With these operating assumptions as a context, the next step is to outline the inquiry process used and to describe the procedures and methods employed for gathering data. The chapter aims to inform the reader about the research procedures and methods used to gather rich information and data about multicultural students’ experiences on small, predominantly White, American college campuses. The research project was approved earlier by each of the multicultural research team’s home institutions.
