Analysing Qualitative Data

Question 1

What are 2 ways to analyse qualitative data?

Answer 1

Content analysis - convert qualitative to quantitive date thru coding
Thematic analysis - keep as qualitative

Question 2

What is content analysis?

Answer 2

• method of analysing qualitative data
• by converting large amounts of qualitative data into quantitative
• done by identifying relevant codes (categories) that can be counted
• then presented in a graph

Question 3

Why is it appropriate to use content analysis to analyse this type (scenario) of data?

Answer 3

The data (scenario) being analysed is qualitative

Question 4

What is meant by coding?

Answer 4

Coding is the initial process of content analysis
- where qualitative data is placed into relevant categories

Question 5

How is a content analysis carried out?

Answer 5

• read transcript
• identify codes, (2-3 examples)
• re read transcript + tally each time code appears
• present qualitative data in graph/table

Question 6

What is thematic analysis?

Answer 6

• method of analysing qualitative data
• by identifying common themes
• enabling us to prevent data in qualitative form
• e.g. presentation, newspapers, social media

Question 7

How is thematic analysis carried out?

Answer 7

• if data isnt already in transcript, watch vid then create a transcript of (scenario)
• read and re read transcript
• identify common codes
• combine these codes to reduce number of codes and create 3 or 4 themes linked to scenario, example
• present data in qualitative form, not quantitative

Question 8

What is a strength of thematic analysis?

Answer 8

• easy to assess reliability of findings + conclusions
• as other researchers can access materials + use coding system
• to ensure findings are consistent (inter - rater reliability)

Question 9

What are 2 ways to assess reliability of content analysis?

Answer 9

Inter-rater reliability
Test re-test

Question 10

Define reliability

Answer 10

Ability to repeat a study in similar conditions to gain consistent results

Question 11

How is inter-rater reliability carried out?

Answer 11

• 2 researchers read qualitative data seperately
• create codes together, (example)
• they then read exactly the same data + tally when codes occur seperately
• tallies are compared
• then correlated using an appropiate stats test
• a pos correlation of +0.8 shows high reliability

Question 12

How is test re-test carried out?

Answer 12

• researcher completes content analysis by creating coding categories + tallying everytime it occurs within qualitative data
• then the same researcher repeats this after a time delay
• results are compared + correlated using a stats test
• pos correlation of +0.8 = high reliability

Question 13

How can the reliability of content analysis be improved?

Answer 13

Operationalising = means to be specific + clear when defining coding categories to make codes easier to measure
- this is important as if codes are vague, isnt possible to repeat study to check for consistent results
- however operationalisatin inc reliability as… vice versa

Question 14

What is validity?
How do you assess the validity of content analysis?

Answer 14

Val = are we measuring what we intend to
Face validity

Question 15

How is face validity carried out?

Answer 15

Quickest + most superficial way to assess val

• independent psychologist in the same field
• looks at the coding categories, (example)
• to see if it measures what it intends to, (scenario)
• at first sight
• if they say yes, content analysis is valid

Question 16

How do you improve the validity of content analysis?

Answer 16

• ensure coding categories are operationalised
• train researchers to use + understand coding categories