Analysing qualitative data CHAPTER 8 Analysing qualitative data
Analysing qualitative data Learning outcomes Apply an appropriate process to analyse your qualitative data Identify and categorise themes and categories emerging from the data Group different items or units of data and examine potential relationships between them Evaluate alternative explanations and formulate credible and plausible conclusions Evaluate computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software in relation to your project objectives Evaluate the trustworthiness of your data-gathering and analysis process
The qualitative data analysis process in practice
The qualitative data analysis process
Categorising and coding data Descriptive/manifest codes First-level codes: identify them for further analysis later Case codes organisation codes sector codes codes for individuals Analytical codes Second-level codes Themes, topics, concepts, ideas Axial/relationship codes To show relationships or connections within or between categories or sub-categories
The qualitative data analysis ‘journey’ Clarify the research questions and the data sources that are required to answer them Make use of an appropriate sampling strategy Decide on the initial categories for the analysis Pilot the analysis process Carry out the analysis
Factors in drawing conclusions from qualitative data Counting Patterning Clustering Factoring Relationships Causal networks Relationship to theory
Evaluating explanations and formulating conclusions