7 data analysis

7 Data analysis7 Data analysis

7 Data analysis7 Data analysis

Main aim

To present the data collected for a Focus Assessment Study as a description of behaviour from the perspective of informants.

Data analysisData analysisTo avoid bias and subjective interpretation of the data:

only trained members of the research team should conduct the analysis

two team members should separately conduct the analysis, compare their results, and discuss and find a solution to any differences.

Categorising and coding dataCategorising and coding data

• Prepare a template of responses, each firmly related to the research aim

• Give each category a series of codes to denote aspects of the issue under investigation

• Allocate each relevant section of the transcription to a code

• Repeat for every category


Inductive category formationExamine data for themes that arise and form categories from those themes.

Deductive category applicationFormulate categories from expected responses.


• Informants do not talk in neat categories

• Categories may need to be revised

• ‘Unusable’ data

Content analysis of Content analysis of coded interview datacoded interview data

Will reveal:

• number of informants who thought that peer influence was a factor influencing drug use

• number who did not

• number who were unsure.

Content analysis of coded focus group data

Will reveal:

the relative importance of this theme compared to other themes:

• how many comments

• how many participants discussed it

Interpreting resultsInterpreting results

To support recommendations for further research and/or interventions.


Discourse analysis: interpreting what informants mean

'Nobody tells me what to do. If I want to use drugs, I will - if I don't, I won't. As it happens, I do - because I want to'

= high self-esteem?

'If your friend is smoking weed [marihuana], you wanna do it too because you don't want to feel left out. So you are gonna do it too'

= low self-esteem?


DO NOT:

• use discourse analysis unless trained

• interpret results to suit the views of the research team

• interpret results to support the recommendations of the research team

• ignore ‘inconvenient’ deviations from the norm


Ask for verification of interpretations and clarification of ambiguous or unexpected findings

Analysis of other dataAnalysis of other data

• from observation

Analysis of other dataAnalysis of other data

• from observation

• secondary data

• supplementary questionnaires

• researchers’ fieldnotes

TriangulationTriangulation

The use of multiple methods and an analysis of their findings in order to yield a more comprehensive picture of the phenomenon under investigation.

8 Ethical issues8 Ethical issues

• Informed consent

aims of studyhow the study will be conductedbenefits of participationhow results reportedhow confidentiality maintained

Informed consent: an exampleInformed consent: an exampleFrom a questionnaire used by From a questionnaire used by Fountain J, Howes S (2001): Rough sleeping, substance use Fountain J, Howes S (2001): Rough sleeping, substance use and service provision in London. Final report to Crisis. London: National Addiction Centreand service provision in London. Final report to Crisis. London: National Addiction Centre

'This study is being conducted by Crisis [a well-known organisation working with homeless people] and is about homelessness and drug use. I will be asking you and other homeless people questions about both these things, although you don't have to be using drugs to take part in the study. A report on the findings will be used to inform those providing services for homeless people who also use drugs.


'This study is being conducted by Crisis [a well-known organisation working with homeless people] and is about homelessness and drug use. I will be asking you and other homeless people questions about both these things, although you don't have to be using drugs to take part in the study. A report on the findings will be

used to inform those providing services for homeless people who also use drugs.

I can assure you that everything you tell me is completely confidential: you need not give me your name and no information which can identify you will be passed on to anyone outside the research team.


'This study is being conducted by Crisis [a well-known organisation working with homeless people] and is about homelessness and drug use. I will be asking you and other homeless people questions about both these things, although you don't have to be using drugs to take part in the study. A report on the findings will be used to inform those providing services for homeless people who also use drugs. I can assure you that everything you tell me is completely confidential: you need not give me your name and no information which can identify you will be passed on to anyone outside the research team.

You don't have to answer any of the questions if you don't want to, but please answer where you can.

The interview will take about 40 minutes to complete.

Do you have any questions about the study or the interview? [Interviewer should answer all questions].

Do you agree to be interviewed?'

Informed consentInformed consent

• When observing people in a public place?

• When interviewing adolescents?

• Parental permission?

• When an individual is encouraged by others to participate?

Ethical issuesEthical issues

• Informed consent

• Confidentiality

Must be guaranteed

Particularly important for those asked about drug use / criminal activities

Maintaining confidentialityMaintaining confidentiality

• When names / locations of drug dealers are revealed

• When storing data

• In focus groups


• Informed consent• Confidentiality

• Anonymity

It must not be possible to linkany response to a particular

individual.

AnonymityAnonymity

• Use pseudonyms or numbers instead of names of informants or those named by them

• Do not attribute quotes in final report such a way that informants can be identified

Ethical issuesEthical issues• Informed consent• Confidentiality• Anonymity

• The effect of the study on participants

Will potential harm to the subjects outweigh the benefits of the study?


• Informed consent• Confidentiality• Anonymity• The effect of the study on participants

• Quality assurance

Quality assuranceQuality assurance

• Particularly important for qualitative research studies

• Personal views, sympathies and prejudices of researchers must be minimised

• Validity: confidence in the accuracy of the findings and that they are reflective of the situation under investigation

Ethical issuesEthical issues• Informed consent• Confidentiality• Anonymity• The effect of the study on participants• Quality assurance

• Health and safety of researchers

Health and safety of researchers

• 2 members of research team present in situations where there is a risk of harm

• Research base kept informed of whereabouts: mobile telephones

• Policy when witnessing illegal activities

• Policy if researcher arrested because with those committing crime

Ethical issuesEthical issues• Informed consent• Confidentiality• Anonymity• The effect of the study on participants• Quality assurance• Health and safety of researchers

• Giving advice to informants

DON’T!

although a leaflet can be prepared

9 Reporting and 9 Reporting and disseminating resultsdisseminating results

A final report should:

widen the knowledge base

be relevant to policy-makers and those who plan interventions

Structure of final reportStructure of final report

Executive summaryIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussion and recommendations

Executive summaryExecutive summary

4 or 5 pages summarising all the information in the report in short paragraphs

IntroductionIntroductionAt least 3 pages to demonstrate the rationale for the study:

• General description of location of research

• Drug use context

• Specific concerns of the study

MethodsMethodsShows how the aims and objectives were achieved:

• documents reviewed• criteria for inclusion in the study• sampling procedures• location of interviews / focus groups• problems and successes• research instruments• data collection procedures• data analysis process

ResultsResults

Not the place for discussion: should present results only

ResultsResults

• Characteristics of informants

• Headings according to aims and objectives

• Be clear where results originated

• Compare results from different information sources

ResultsResults

How do you report sensitive issues?

Use of quotesUse of quotes

Use to illustrate points made in the results section

Too many: chaotic ‘stream of consciousness’ with no indication of why they are being used

Too few: deprive the reader of rich qualitative data and the sense of contact with informants via their verbatim statements

ResultsResults

Report ALL informants’ points of view

GeneralisabilityGeneralisability

Do not over-generalise:

results from a study conducted with schoolchildren from ONE school cannot be said to apply to all schoolchildren in the area, the town, or the country.

Discussion and Discussion and recommendationsrecommendations

• Examine major results

• Discuss and interpret them in terms of implications for policy and interventions

• Ensure recommendations accurately reflect findings

• Make recommendations for further research

• Make recommendations stand out: boxes or bullet points

Dissemination of results to:Dissemination of results to:• appropriate policy-makers• those who plan interventions• managers of relevant institutions (such as schools,social workers, police, community workers)• drug services• social research institutions• those professionals who assisted with the study• all informants?• conferences and meetings• libraries• internet

7 data analysis

Documents

data analysisto

coding data informants

research team

drug use number

category categorising

number of informants

substance use

research aim