working with longitudinal qualitative data: using nvivo as an analytic tool roger j. vallance the...
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Working with Longitudinal Qualitative Data: Using NVivo as an Analytic Tool
Roger J. VallanceThe University of Notre Dame Australia
Paper presented at the 6th International conference of Qualitative Research Conference, 21-23 Sept 2005 Durham.
Longitudinal Qualitative research
Research question Longitudinal qualitative research
occurs when a research question investigating a development over time or causal perspective is conducted in a qualitative methodology
Research sample Research methodology
Sampling Repeated cross-sectional samples
Same questions asked of different samples over time. Panel study (different styles of panels explored
below) Same individuals are interviewed repeatedly over time.
Indefinite life panel without replacement Once a group of participants are enlisted, the group participants are re-
contacted for each iteration of the research. Indefinite life panel with replacement
As above Rotating panel
Sample strategies calls for the research to last longer than average participation. Participants might be included for 3 or 4 iterations and then replaced according to the same sample choices as original sample selection.
Overlapping panel Use of several rotating panel structures so that groups are out of phase in
their replacement cycles.
LQR methodologies Not restricted to specific
methodologies That said, LQR does not happen by
accident Distinction between longitudinal and
meta-analysis Research question Sample maybe not approach to analysis and
synthesis
Organising the Data Attributes
Information that is relatively unchanging, That might form a table of values organised
in columns for each participant (row) Sets
Used for more ad hoc or volatile information Overlapping data sets
Cases Cases nodes for testing emergent ideas
Attributes in longitudinal analysis
Sets in longitudinal analysis
Cases in longitudinal analysis
Three useful distinctions Theme
Manifest statements of individual participants Participant perspective
Pattern Findings of the research, possibly pro term Researcher perspective
Topic Summary of contributions and discussions with
participants. cf Luborsky 1994 The Identification and Analysis of
Themese and Patterns, in J.F. Gubrium & A. Sankar Qualitative Methods in Aging Research. Sage.
Longitudinal Analysis Ideally, unit of analysis is the individual Analysing each wave
At this point in time What is the qual analysis ? Connecting between the waves
What has changed and how have these changes occurred
Retrospection How did we come to this?
Participant validation At end of research, chance to validate their
stories
Sets scope searches
Connecting between the waves
Bringing it together
Retrospection Looking back over one’s shoulder Epiphanies Turning points Dead ends and discontinuities
Participant validation Not always possible And what does one validate?
Individual analysis More global views
One view of Longitudinal Qualitative Analysis
What has changed? How has it changed? For whom has it changed? Why has it changed? How have they changed? Where /who are they now?
A second view of Longitudinal Qualitative Analysis
What has changed for these participants? [subQ – for this person] Analyse topics and individual accounts
What has caused these observed changes? Analyse themes with field notes
To what extent are these changes global? Analyse patterns with field notes and memos
New horizons Qualitative data is growing in
volume, richness, number, extent to which we can cope with large data collections Historical inspections of similar projects
possible Warehousing of data may yield
resource of great value Might interoperation of CAQDAS be
another step?