Qualitative Research Data Analysis

Mary Jean Ronan HerzogAnn Alexander

Western Carolina University Educational Leadership & Foundations

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning DayWaynesville Country Club

February 21, 2009mherzog@wcu.edu

aalexander@wcu.edu

The Qualitative Research Continuum

Reductive ………………….. Holisitic

Structured ………………….Intuitive

Data

• Interviews, focus groups, and questionnaires

• Transcriptions of open-ended interviews or questions

• Fieldnotes and drawings• Observations

• Audiovisual materials

• Notes about documents or scanned documents

• Documents, portfolios, journals

• Pictures, photographs, videotapes, objects, sounds

Form of Data Collection Type of Data

Step 1: Collect Good Data

• Tape record and transcribe interviews

• Take fieldnotes during interviews and observations

• Fieldnotes include both observations and impressions

• Take or draw pictures during observations

• Keep a journal and/or log during the research study.

Levels of Analysis

• Whole – Parts – Whole– Data Reduction– Data Synthesis– Data Display– Conclusion Drawing/Verification

• Case Analysis• Cross Case Analysis

Analysis is an Iterative Process

That occurs

• During data collection process

• Immediately after an interview or site visit

• Simultaneously

• Continues till the end of the project

Constant Comparison Method

Recursive process of:• Comprehension• Interpretation• Deconstruction• Synthesis

Glaser & Strauss, 1967

Basic Steps in Analysis

• Read and reread raw data • Listen and listen again to the interviews, videos,

etc.• Watch and watch again the videos, photos,

documents, etc.

Ask: What Jumps Out at You?

Look/listen for

– Issues– Recurring events– Repetition– Significant statements

Manual Analysis

• Write margin notes• Write memos• Cut text into individual segments • Color code• Sort into discreet units• Group commonalities (within and across cases)

Intuitive Dimensions

Develop:– Hunches – Hypotheses– Codes– Categories – Conclusions– Summaries

Qualitative Findings

• Themes• Patterns • Concepts • Insights • Understandings

Patton, 2002, p. 5

Accuracy of Findings

• Referential Adequacy• Triangulation• Member checking• External audit

Creswell (2005); Lincoln & Guba, (1985)

Representing Findings

• Text • Direct quotes• Comparison table or matrix• Hierarchical tree diagram• Figures and flowcharts• Maps

Creswell (2005)