QUALITATIVE DATAQualitative data are forms of information

gathered in a nonnumeric form. Common examples of such data are:

Interview transcript Field notes Video & Audio recordings ImagesDocuments (reports, meeting minutes, e-

mails)

WHAT IS QUALITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS?(QDA)

Is the range of processes and procedures whereby we move from the qualitative data that have been collected into some form of;

Explanation, understanding, interpretation of the people and situations we are investigating.

QDA is usually based on an interpretative philosophy.

To examine the meaningful and symbolic content of qualitative data.

For example, by analyzing interview data the

researcher may be attempting to identify any or all of;

Someone's interpretation of the world,Why they have that point of view,

How they came to that view,What they have been doing,How they conveyed their view of their

situation,How they identify or classify themselves

and others in what they say,

QDA usually involves two things, Writing and the identification of themes. Writing of some kind is found in almost all

forms of QDA. In contrast, some approaches, such as

discourse analysis or conversation analysis may not require the identification of themes.

Types of DataThis is the process of interpreting data collected

during the course of qualitative research.

Analysis of the data depends on its type;

Analysis of Visual data & analysis of Narrative data

Analysis of Visual Data

Analysis of a Set of Photographs

A set of photographs could be analyzed;What is the setting of the photograph?What is the likely time of year and day?What is the subject of the photograph?Does it include people, animals, buildings

and/or scenery?What is the main activity of the

photograph?Does there seem to be a theme to a set of

photographs?

Analysis of Textual Data

To understand society you have to gain access to the way people attribute meaning to what goes on around them,

and find out how they react to action or lack of action

events and/or nothing happening, people or the absence of people

One way of gaining access to people’s understanding is to capture their talk.

Mean their spoken words turned into text, or it may mean their words that were written down by them for themselves,

e.g. diaries or for others to read e.g. letters

Analysis of qualitative data begins before it is collected;

1. By framing and posing a research question or problem;

2. Being aware of the theoretical positions available on the topic,

Researchers' are 'pre-figuring the field' i.e. anticipating what they may find?

Prefiguring the field & Rigor

Pre-figuring the field runs the risk of researchers only finding out what they want to find by only looking for a specific phenomena, or by being blind to other issues that arise.

Rigor - the checks and balances built into qualitative research to make sure it is believable, trustworthy and credible.

ReflexivityForewarned is forearmed. By being aware of the pitfalls of pre-figuring the field, researchers can maintain an openness to the situation they are investigating. They can be attentive to issues that are not expected or do not conform to existing accounts or theories of society. This idea of being aware of your own values, ideas and pre-judgements as a researcher is known as reflexivity.

IterationIteration means moving back and forth. In

qualitative research it is difficult to cleanly separate out data collection or generation from data analysis because there is movement back and forth between generation and analysis.

Researchers usually generate data at a point in time and also write analytical notes to themselves about that data. These notes are then processed into memos or guiding notes to inform the next bout of data collection. And so leads the merry dance.

Analytical MemosThe sorts of things included are –The identification of patterns;Working out the limitations, exceptions and

variations present in whatever is being investigated;

Generating tentative explanations for the patterns and seeing if they are present or absent in other settings or situations;

Working explanations into a theoretical model; Confirming or modifying the theoretical model;

What makes qualitative data analysis dynamic, exciting and intellectually challenging is the iteration between generation and analysis and within the different types of analytical work.

It is very rare for qualitative data to be collected all in one go, then processed and analyzed. If this happened we might criticize the project for not being true to the context in which it was generalized, which would make it a weak piece of work.

Triangulation of AnalysisOne way of producing believable, credible and

trustworthy work is to use triangulation. In qualitative analysis means more than one

perspective on a situation e.g. students or service users, their families and friends, and service providers.

FluencyTo analyze texts for their meaning, researchers

have to be fluent in the language which the research participants use.

Not just the formal language, but also the colloquialisms used in every day talk. Listen carefully next time you are in a public place to the richness of everyday language that bears little resemblance to standard English - check with a friend their interpretation of phrase or word against your own.

An inability to understand what is said will restrict researchers' abilities to gain an understanding of participants' motives, meanings and behaviors.

Capturing TalkThe act of capturing talk may shape what

is said and in turn influence how it is analyzed.

Using tape recorders to capture talk means that researchers' may attend to the interviewee without having to focus on writing down their talk verbatim. However, the recording will have to be clear to allow an accurate transcription so attention to equipment and environment will have a direct affect on the quality of the analysis.

Processing Texts and ArchivingThe most common way of processing texts is to

transcribe taped talk into word processed documents. These may then be read and re-read to identify meaning, patterns and models.

Analytical notes and memos will be made, and all of these need to stored carefully -1. to protect the integrity of the original document,2. to allow the various components of the current analysis to be identified,3. to locate the source of the comments made.

Use the key questions for analysis to consider the following three photographs, writing down your thoughts about each.

Photo 1

Suggested InterpretationThis is a busy scene showing lots of young adults (university students) socialising outside a building. The majority are seated, having conversations with friends. There are many holding alcoholic drinks, possibly lager or beer. There is a building in the background, with a large amount of glass frontage and a couple of tree trunks in the foreground. The sun is shining and some of the students are wearing caps. The majority are wearing short sleeved tops, though have trousers on. The photograph might have been taken in the late spring, or early/late summer. It is suggestive of the campus being a lively centre, with the provision of facilities that support student recreation.

Thank you

Ans. Ques.