Chapter 14 Analysing Qualitative Data Zina OLeary

QDA Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) creates new understandings by exploring and interpreting complex data from: interviews group discussions observation journals archival documents, etc. without the aid of quantification. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

QDA In QDA, there is a reliance on words and images to draw out rich meaning. Analysis should be approached as a critical, reflexive, and iterative process that cycles between data and an overarching research framework. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Data Management Managing qualitative data involves: familiarizing yourself with appropriate software developing a data management system systematically organizing your data making overarching notes preparing transcriptions and finally (if using QDA software) entering the data. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Logic and Methods The methods and logic of QDA involve: balancing creativity and focus while uncovering and discovering themes that run through the raw data. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Logic and Methods QDA involves: identifying biases and noting impressions reducing organizing and coding searching for patterns and interconnections mapping and building themes building and verifying theories and drawing conclusions. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Funnelling Towards Meaning Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

Cycles of Reasoning Qualitative data analysis often involves: moving through cycles of inductive and deductive reasoning thematic exploration (based on word, concepts, literary devises, and nonverbal cues) and exploration of the interconnections among themes. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

QDA There are a number of paradigm/ discipline based strategies for QDA including: overarching methodologies content, discourse, narrative, and conversation analysis semiotics hermeneutics and grounded theory. Visual analysis intersects with all of these and reminds researchers of the importance of images. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage

QDA Presentation Effective presentation of qualitative data can be a real challenge. You will need to have a clear storyline, and selectively use words and/or images to give weight to your story. Zina OLeary (2009) The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project. London: Sage