Secondary analysis of qualitative data: what is it and can it help your research? Libby Bishop ESDS Qualidata, University of Essex Department of Sociology Minicourse Essex University 24 May 2007

What is secondary analysis? Ways to use pre-existing data –Description –Comparison, sample extension –Restudies (Booth-poverty) –Reanalysis/new questions (Fielding's, Bornat) –Research design (instrument) –Validation vs. reflexive restudy (Savage) Can data pre-exist?

Uses of secondary analysis for post-graduate research Helpful to think of comparison with literature review –Lit review covers findings, with breadth –Data review covers data, in depth

Strategies for SA: qualitative data Content knowledge: search catalogue to locate and download relevant studies –Thematic guides Methods knowledge: explore supporting documentation –User guides for each study Web searching and browsing –Qualidata Online

Advantages of reuse Might save time (recruiting, transcription) but more time on learning previous context Some consent issues may be resolved Readily available data for vulnerable, hard-to-access populations Distance from data

Disadvantages of reuse Data simply not available Not get experience of primary data collection Constrained by what was asked in original study Inadequate context Limited or unknown consent agreements Distance from data

Epistemological critique- Context Context is essential for reflexive use of qual data Full context can not be recreated in SA Ergo, SA is not suitable… Recontextualisation…

Levels of contexts Holstein and Gubrium (in Seale, 04) van den Berg (FQS, 05) Institutional, cultural Extra-discursive SituationalConditions of discursive production Conversational, interact ional Intra-discursive

Contexts and reusing data Original project Current project Data records transcripts, audio, etc. transcripts, often no more Interview setting room, dress, appearance often not documented Projectoriginal questions, messy analysis new questions, official methodology Cultural, institutional relevance depends on the res. Q

Context examples What does tinned food signify? –2007, 1967, 1947, 1927… Contacting the primary researcher –For and against

What if there isnt enough context? What is the nature of the document? What was the intent of the author? What were the conditions under which it was produced? What would a historian do?

Ethics End User Licence and beyond… Respondents Interviewers What about when reuse is for very different purposes? –What is the researchers duty? –Is it different from primary researchers? A real case study….. No harm, no deceit?

Qualitative data collections Data from Economic and Social Research Council awards Data from classic social science studies Other funders and sources

Types of qualitative data Diverse data types: in-depth interviews; semi-structured interviews; focus groups; oral histories; mixed methods data; open-ended survey questions; case notes/records of meetings; diaries/research diaries Some multimedia: audio, video, photos Formats: digital, paper, analogue audio-visual

Supporting Documentation Examples –Funding application –Description of methodology –Communication with informants on confidentiality –Coding schemes / themes –Technical details of equipment –Interview schedules –End of award report –Documentation from CAQDAS software packages, e.g., analytical memos –Bibliographies, resulting publications Anything that adds insight or aids understanding and secondary usage

Using thesaurus for searches Jewish, anti-Semitism Football, celebrity Capitalism, inequality, redistribution Multiculturalism, ethnic minority religions Populism, Venezuela, Taiwan, discourse analysis

For more information ESDS Qualidata site UK Data Archive Catalogue archStart.asp