Qualitative Data Analysis

Qualitative Data Analysis

1. 3. Qualitative Data Analysis

   • Types
     • Observation / Unstructured interviews / Group interviews / Collection of documentary materials
   • Process of the description, classification and interconnection of phenomena with the researcher’s concepts.
     • Approaches
       • Theoretical Propositions
         • A coherent set of general propositions that offer an explanation and description of the phenomenon
       • Triangulation
         • Researcher uses data from different sources
           • -Data triangulation (by using different sampling strategies) -Investigator triangulation (data collection and analysis is done -Theoretical triangulation (data is interpreted) -Methodological triangulation (collecting data by using at least two methods).
             • Advantages
               • 1. More than 1 Method
                 • 2. expanding the learning opportunity
             • Disadvantages
               • Data is collected using different methods, cannot always be compared with each other
                 • More expensive
       • Grounded Theory
         • Theory gathered and analysed through the research process
           • “Initial coding and categorization of data / Concurrent data generation or collection and analysis / Writing memos / Theoretical sampling / Theoretical sensitivity / Intermediate coding
             • Advantages
               • systematically and sequentially
             • Disadvantages
               • relatively time consuming process
       • Content Analysis
         • Emphasizes the role of the investigator in the construction of the meaning
           • research question needs to be formulated
             • Advantages
               • systematic, replicable technique for compressing many words based on explicit rules of coding.
             • Disadvantages
               • Researchers might tend to analyse what is measurable instead of what is theoretically important

2. 2. Qualitative Research

   • Qualitative Research
     • is structured by the concerns of those who are the subject of the research
       • Words / Points of view of participants / Researcher close
     • vs
       • Quantitative Research
         • might have no direct contact with the research subject at all.
           • Numbers / Point of view of researcher / Researcher distant
   • Structure
     • 1. General research questions
       • 2. Selecting relevant site(s) and subjects
         • 3. Collection of relevant data
           • 4. Interpretation of data
             • 5. Conceptual and theoretical
               • 6. Writing up findings/conclusions

3. 1. Research Philosophy

   • Research design has 3 components
     • Philosophy
       • Epistemology
         • Philosophy Fundation
       • Ontology
         • Philosophy Fundation
     • Methodology
       • Deductive
         • Mainly quantitative
       • Inductive
         • Mainly qualitative
     • Methods

4. 4. KEY STEPS OF QUALITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS

   • Data collection
   • Data reduction
   • Data displays
   • Conclusion drawing