Qualitative Research Data Analysis

Question 1

what is qual data analysis

Answer 1

process of finding meaning from the data
Involves moving back and forth between concrete data and abstract concepts, inductive and deductive reasoning, description and interpretation

Question 2

data reduction

Answer 2

• tranform data from field notes or transcriptions
• write up and/or transcribe field notes and print
• which parts of the data are most useful?
• developing some manageable classification system or coding system
• content analysis precedes identifyinfg, coding, categorising, classifying, labelling

Question 3

coding data

Answer 3

develop a description from the data
define themes from the data
connect and interrelate
isolate patterns and processes, commonalities and differences
gradually elaborating
interpreting those with a formalised body of knowledge in the form of constructs or theories

Question 4

5 steps of content analysis

Answer 4

1. get to know the data
2. focus the analysis
3. categorise the info
4. identify patterns and connections within and between categories
5. interpretation (bring it all together)

Question 5

coding

Answer 5

a shorthand description of: acts, activities, meaning, participation, relationships, settings, context, participant perspectives

Question 6

types of coding

Answer 6

open coding - assign a work or phrase
axial coding - interconnecting
selective coding - core categories only
clustering - make a list of all code words and reduce the list
saturation - no point in further analysis

Question 7

analysis considerations

Answer 7

identify patterns and connections within and between categories
trends or themes - detailed info on a few themes
iteration - moving back and forth between collection and analysis

Question 8

typical analysis errors

Answer 8

simply listing all comments without analysis
including info that makes it possible to identify people
qualitative info cannot be generalised
using quotes to provide positive spin

Question 9

study limitations

Answer 9

researcher must admit imperfections
self analysis
adds credibility to the researcher

Question 10

applying external validity to qualitative research

Answer 10

apply the results of this study to other situations

Question 11

validating accuracy of findings

Answer 11

prolonged engagement and persistent observation 
triangulation 
peer review
clarifying researcher bias 
members checking 
rich, thick description 
external audit

Question 12

relability or dependability

Answer 12

reliability - the extent to which findings can be replicated
dependability - not based on outsiders achieving the same results, but that they concur with the results chieved making sense

Question 13

challenges

Answer 13

labour intensive
requires creativity
requires conceptual sensitivity
non -formulaic

Question 14

verification

Answer 14

triangulate from multiple sources or methods
use several researchers
use thick description in order to provide for the shared experience
clarify research bias in advance
look for disconcerting evidence
spend prolonged time in the field to develop an in depth understanding
use peer debreifin

Question 15

software for qualitative research

Answer 15

enables field notes, transcription of field notes, editing correcting extending or revising notes, coding, storage in a database of text
search and retrieval of relevant data
data linking

Question 16

using software

Answer 16

content analysis: frequencies, sequence or location of words and phrases
data display: condensing large text for inspection
conclusion drawing
theory building: systematic and conceptually coherent explanations of findings
graphic mapping
preparing interim or final reports