Qualitative Research: Qualitative Research: Data Analysis and Data Analysis and

InterpretationInterpretation

Guess what? There are no Guess what? There are no formulae or steps for analysing formulae or steps for analysing

and interpreting Qualitative and interpreting Qualitative Research dataResearch data

However, here are some suggestions However, here are some suggestions to use most of your datato use most of your data

First, First, data analysis data analysis is our attempt to is our attempt to summarize summarize collected data in a collected data in a dependable and accurate mannerdependable and accurate manner

Secondly, Secondly, data interpretationdata interpretation is our is our attempt to find attempt to find meaning meaning in the data, in the data, or making sense of the dataor making sense of the data

When analysing and interpreting When analysing and interpreting qualitative data: qualitative data:

Challenge yourself to explore every Challenge yourself to explore every possible angle and try to find possible angle and try to find patterns and seek out new patterns and seek out new understandings among the dataunderstandings among the data

Suggested steps to analyzing Suggested steps to analyzing qualitative research data:qualitative research data:

1. become familiar with the data and 1. become familiar with the data and identify potential themes identify potential themes (reading/memoing)(reading/memoing)

2. examine the data in depth to 2. examine the data in depth to provide descriptions of the setting, provide descriptions of the setting, participant and activity (describing)participant and activity (describing)

3.categorize and code pieces of data 3.categorize and code pieces of data and group them into themes and group them into themes (classifying)(classifying)

Remember it is your ability to:Remember it is your ability to:

ThinkThink ImagineImagine CreateCreate IntuitIntuit AnalyzeAnalyze ……that guides the data analysisthat guides the data analysis

Strategies that are used to analyze Strategies that are used to analyze qualitative data:qualitative data:

1. Identify themes1. Identify themes 2. Code your data2. Code your data 3. Ask key questions3. Ask key questions 4. Do an organizational review4. Do an organizational review 5. Do concept mapping5. Do concept mapping 6. Analyze antecedents and consequences6. Analyze antecedents and consequences 7. Display findings7. Display findings 8. Be honest- State what’s missing8. Be honest- State what’s missing

Yes, there are computer software Yes, there are computer software that that assistassist with data analysis with data analysis

1. NVivo 2.01. NVivo 2.0 2. The Ethnography2. The Ethnography 3. HyperRESEARCH3. HyperRESEARCH 4. NUD*IST 64. NUD*IST 6

These software These software helphelp-- they don’t do they don’t do the work or replace your abilitiesthe work or replace your abilities

To thinkTo think SummarizeSummarize AnalyzeAnalyze InferInfer *Perhaps, they are most helpful in *Perhaps, they are most helpful in

storing, helping you to manipulate storing, helping you to manipulate and retrieving dataand retrieving data

Strategies for Data Interpretation:Strategies for Data Interpretation:

1. Extend the analysis- question your 1. Extend the analysis- question your studystudy

2. Connect findings with personal 2. Connect findings with personal experiencesexperiences

3. Seek advice from “critical” friends3. Seek advice from “critical” friends 4. Contextualize findings in the 4. Contextualize findings in the

literatureliterature

5. Turn to theory as a means to: link 5. Turn to theory as a means to: link to broader issues, move away from a to broader issues, move away from a purely descriptive account, and purely descriptive account, and providing a rational for your workproviding a rational for your work

6. Know 6. Know whenwhen to offer an to offer an interpretation from the datainterpretation from the data

Note: it is rare for qualitative Note: it is rare for qualitative researchers to use all of their data researchers to use all of their data for the task is to identify important for the task is to identify important themes or meanings, not necessarily themes or meanings, not necessarily including every themeincluding every theme

To ensure credibility ask:To ensure credibility ask:

1. Are the data based on observation 1. Are the data based on observation or hearsay?or hearsay?

2. Is there corroboration by others for 2. Is there corroboration by others for the observations?the observations?

3. Within what context was the 3. Within what context was the observation made or reported?observation made or reported?

4. How reliable were the people 4. How reliable were the people providing the data?providing the data?

5. What motivations might have 5. What motivations might have influenced a participant’s report?influenced a participant’s report?

6. What biases might have influenced 6. What biases might have influenced how an observation was made or how an observation was made or reported?reported?

Lastly, as a qualitative researcher Lastly, as a qualitative researcher you should:you should:

Share your interpretations wiselyShare your interpretations wisely Avoid being evangelicalAvoid being evangelical Provide a clear link between data Provide a clear link between data

collection, analysis, and collection, analysis, and interpretationinterpretation