Analysis of Qualitative Data
Qualitative research deals more with observations and interview data in the form audio tapes, written transcripts, video material, art, posters and others. The process of analysis is not to do with quantity of data or responses, but rather with the quality and the content of the data. Generally qualitative data analysis seeks to better understand people's lives, behaviors and stories, as well as the ways organizations function, social movements operate and the interactional relationships (Strauss and Corbin, 1990)
There is always a tension in the analysis process between the extent to which the data 'speaks' for itself and the extent to which the researcher brings his or her ideas and arguments to the data. It's a good idea to return to your original research ideas and research proposal to help you clarify what (data) it is important to include, and what might fall outside of your research project and/or constitute another article, study or project.
Further Reading:
Ezzy, Douglas (2002) 'Qualitative Analysis: Practice and Innovation', New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.
Glaser, B. (1978) 'Theoretical sensitivity'. Mill Valley, CA: Sociology Press.
Glaser, B., & A. Strauss. (1967) 'The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research'. Chicago: Aldine.
View the article by Sally Thorne: Data analysis in qualitative research
There are many different methods of analysis that can be used on qualitative data, some of the main methods of analysis can be accessed via the left hand menu.
Constant Comparative Analysis
This method was originally developed for the use in grounded theory methodology, and is now applied more widely as a method of analysis in qualitative research. It requires the researcher to take one piece of data (E.g. one interview, one statement or one theme) and compare it to all other pieces of data that are either similar or different. During this process, the researcher begins to look at what makes this piece of data different and/or similar to other pieces of data.
This method of analysis is inductive, as the researcher begins to examine data critically and draw new meaning from the data (rather than a deductive approach which defines at the outset what will be found).
Further Reading:
Glasser, B. (1965) 'The Constant Comparative Method of Qualitative Analysis' in Social Problems, Vol 12 No. 4. California: University of California Press.
Discourse Analysis
Discourse analysis looks at the way in which people have said or articulated their answers to interview questions, or how they have described an incident. It draws upon the assumption that how people recount or tell of their experiences provides deeper insight and meaning than the actual story or account itself. For example, interpreting the phenomenon of silence or pauses in the recounting of stories or answering questions may provide answers to the level of comfort a participants feels on being able to discuss the issue at hand.
Further Reading: Wodak, Ruth & Meyer, Michael (2001) 'Methods of Critical Discourse Analysis', London: Sage
Ethnographic Approaches
Ethnographic research is concerned with the study of culture, people, social behaviors communities and societies in general. Analysis of ethnographic material therefore requires the researcher to analyze data from a perspective that challenges cultural understandings, interpretations and discourse. It involves the sifting through data and searching for themes, differences and commonalities.
Further Reading:
Ellen,R. (1984) 'Ethnographic Research: A guide to general conduct', London: Academic
Pawluch, Dorothy., Shaffir, William., Miall, Charlene. (2005) 'Doing ethnograph: Studying Everyday Life', Toronto: Canadians Scholars Press.
Narrative methods
The analysis of narrative interviews also requires a different approach. The point of a narrative interview is to draw from participants an account of something they have experienced. Narrative analysis recognizes the extent to which the stories we tell provide insight into our lived experiences. Analysis of narrative data requires that we are able to detect the main themes (or points of emphasis) to emerge from these stories. It is these themes or points of emphasis that are used to interpret how these participants make sense of their lives or experiences.
Examples:
Bishop, R. (1996) Collaborative Research Stories: Whanaungatanga, Dunmore Press, Palmerston North.
Further Readings:
Czarniawska-Joerges, Barbara. (2004) Narratives in Social Science Research, Sage, Thousand Oaks, London.
Riessman, Catherine (1993) Narrative Analysis, Sage Publications, Newbury Park California.
Phenomenological Approaches
Phenomenology is a method that is used to find out the underlying structure or experiences that have led to the existence of a certain phenomenon. These study’s require the researcher to engage in in-depth analysis of one form of data, and explicitly steers researchers away from comparative analysis. The point of this process is to find deeper meaning in the data, and a depth of appreciation of the reflections or experiences expressed in interview material.
Further Reading:
Kersten, F. (1989) 'Phenomenological Method: Theory and Practice', Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Stange, Sherman. (1987) 'Adult Education and Phenomenological Research', Malabar.