Lecture 14: Data Analysis in Qualitative Studies Flashcards
what is one of the most important steps in the research process?
analysis
what is used when researchers generate and wish to analyze non-numerical data?
qualitative data analysis
what is examples of things you can find from non-numerical data?
- patterns
- identify themes
- discover relationships
- develop explanations
- make interpretations
what does the 18 qualitative analysis techniques emphasize?
that the choice of technique can significantly impact the research outcomes
why is it crucial to identify the goals in qualitative data analysis?
the goals shape the analysis approach and the type of results sought
what is a taxonomy?
a formal system for classifying multi-faceted and complex phenomena
- essentially: a way of naming and classifying things according to their similarities and differences
what is generating themes?
a way to characterize the responses of participants and provide insight into the essential components of their experience
what is useful for when the goal is to clarify and organize complex constructs?
a taxonomy
what do themes act as?
recurrent, unifying concepts or statements that summarize the essence of the topic of inquiry
what are some things to think about when generating themes?
- do the themes make sense?
- does the data support the themes?
- am i trying to fit too much into a theme?
- if themes overlap, are they really separate themes?
- are there themes within themes (subthemes)?
- are there other themes within the data?
what might the last goal of data analysis be?
to develop a theory
what is a theory?
a set of interlocking casual variables to explain some aspect of personal, social or physical realities
it is important for researchers to think about the types of ________ they want from their ________.
results, analysis
the types of results they want from their analysis should be informed by the?
goal, or purpose of the research
what is inductive data analysis?
building knowledge from the bottom up through observations of the world, which provide the bases for developing theories or laws
- researchers identify taxonomies, themes, or theory from the generated data in the research
what is deductive data analysis?
researchers use an existing framework or starting list of categories by which researchers code the data
- deductive logic starts with a theory from which a hypothesis is derived and applied to observations about the world
- the hypothesis will then be confirmed or rejected, thereby strengthening or weakening the theory
what is an example of inductive data analysis?
if researchers conduct interviews without a predefined framework, they might identify new themes based on participants responses
what is an advantage of inductive data analysis?
- it ensures that the analysis is grounded in the actual data, which can lead to novel insights and a deeper understanding of the research context
what is the process of an inductive data analysis?
researchers generate categories, themes or theories directly from the data without preconceived notions
- this approach is data-driven and allows findings to emerge naturally
what is the process the deductive data analysis?
researchers use an existing framework or set of categories to guide the analysis
- data is coded according to these predefined categories
what is an example of deductive data analysis?
using a theoretical model to categorize interview responses about communication styles
what is an advantage of deductive data analysis?
- it allows for a structure analysis that can test existing theories or hypotheses
what type of data analysis approach does qualitative researchers use?
they often combine inductive and deductive data analysis
- this allows for acknowledgement of existing theory and represents the words/experiences of participants in the study
what is the process of abductive data analysis?
- involves generating new hypotheses and theories based on surprising or unexpected findings in the data
what is an example of abductive data analysis?
encountering an unexpected pattern in interview data that leads to the development of a new theoretical insight
what is an advantage of abductive data analysis?
it fosters creativity and innovation in theory development
what are the three key ways that qualitative data analysis is a unique and dynamic process, fundamentally distinct from quantitative analysis?
- immediate
- ongoing
- spiral
what is meant by ‘qualitative data analysis is immediate’?
- data analysis begins immediately as part of the development of research
what is meant by ‘qualitative data analysis is ongoing’?
data analysis is not confined to a single phase of the research
what allows for a rich, in-depth understanding of complex phenomena?
how qualitative data analysis is immediate, ongoing and spiral
