1. Working with Longitudinal Qualitative Data: Using NVivo as an Analytic Tool Roger J. Vallance The University of Notre Dame Australia Paper presented at the 6 th International conference of Qualitative Research Conference, 21-23 Sept 2005 Durham.

2. Longitudinal Qualitative research Research question Longitudinal qualitative research occurs when a research question investigating a development over time or causal perspective is conducted in a qualitative methodology Research sample Research methodology

3. Sampling Repeated cross-sectional samples Same questions asked of different samples over time. Panel study (different styles of panels explored below) Same individuals are interviewed repeatedly over time. Indefinite life panel without replacement Once a group of participants are enlisted, the group participants are re-contacted for each iteration of the research. Indefinite life panel with replacement As above Rotating panel Sample strategies calls for the research to last longer than average participation. Participants might be included for 3 or 4 iterations and then replaced according to the same sample choices as original sample selection. Overlapping panel Use of several rotating panel structures so that groups are out of phase in their replacement cycles.

4. LQR methodologies Not restricted to specific methodologies That said, LQR does not happen by accident Distinction between longitudinal and meta-analysis Research question Sample maybe not approach to analysis and synthesis

5. Organising the Data Attributes Information that is relatively unchanging, That might form a table of values organised in columns for each participant (row) Sets Used for more ad hoc or volatile information Overlapping data sets Cases Cases nodes for testing emergent ideas

6. Attributes in longitudinal analysis

7. Sets in longitudinal analysis

8. Cases in longitudinal analysis

9. Three useful distinctions Theme Manifest statements of individual participants Participant perspective Pattern Findings of the research, possibly pro term Researcher perspective Topic Summary of contributions and discussions with participants. cf Luborsky 1994 The Identification and Analysis of Themese and Patterns, in J.F. Gubrium & A. Sankar Qualitative Methods in Aging Research. Sage.

10. Longitudinal Analysis Ideally, unit of analysis is the individual Analysing each wave At this point in time What is the qual analysis ? Connecting between the waves What has changed and how have these changes occurred Retrospection How did we come to this? Participant validation At end of research, chance to validate their stories

11. Sets scope searches

12. Connecting between the waves

13. Bringing it together Retrospection Looking back over one’s shoulder Epiphanies Turning points Dead ends and discontinuities Participant validation Not always possible And what does one validate? Individual analysis More global views

14. One view of Longitudinal Qualitative Analysis What has changed? How has it changed? For whom has it changed? Why has it changed? How have they changed? Where /who are they now?

15. A second view of Longitudinal Qualitative Analysis What has changed for these participants? [subQ – for this person] Analyse topics and individual accounts What has caused these observed changes? Analyse themes with field notes To what extent are these changes global? Analyse patterns with field notes and memos

16. New horizons Qualitative data is growing in volume, richness, number, extent to which we can cope with large data collections Historical inspections of similar projects possible Warehousing of data may yield resource of great value Might interoperation of CAQDAS be another step?