1. Analysing qualitative data
CHAPTER 8
Analysing qualitative data

2. 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

3. The qualitative data analysis process
in practice

4. The qualitative data analysis process

5. 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

6. 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

7. Factors in drawing conclusions from qualitative data
Counting
Patterning
Clustering
Factoring
Relationships
Causal networks
Relationship to theory

8. Evaluating explanations and formulating conclusions