Qualitative Data

Question 1

What is Qualitative Data?

Answer 1

Is unstrucutred data.
Cannot be hierarchically arranged
Difficult to circumscribe

Question 2

Types of methods for Qualitative Data

Answer 2

Interview, Observation, Questionnaire

Question 3

3 premises of Qualitative Data

Answer 3

Keep the data systematically
Data analysis and collection is incremental
The researcher is the most important instrument

Question 4

What are codes? What is coding?

Answer 4

Codes are elements that allocate concepts to data (identification of the theoretical framework)
Coding is the process which interprets & assigns codes to different pieces of info.

Question 5

Qualitative Data Steps
1. Ordering & Collecting Data (4)
DR & IR (abduction possible)

Answer 5

· Always do it systematically.
· Store large amounts of data
· Conceptually ordered based on Data Reduction (disregard irrelevant data)
· Exchange information

In DR: order and collect the data based on operationalisation and sequenced movement
In IR: order and collect the data based on patterns and concepts and coding is done until saturation is reached.

Question 6

Qualitative Data Steps
2. Data Analysis
(3)

Answer 6

Interpret the data along with the codes.
· based on trial-error
· data summary
· compare data based on same codes

Question 7

Qualitative Data Steps
2. Data Analysis
Phase 1: Generating Codes(DR/IR)

Answer 7

In DR: based on operationalisation; decided in advance
- Thematic & Interpretative

In IR: gradually generated
- Descriptive & Situational

Question 8

Types of Codes (4)

Answer 8

Thematic: describes interrelated constructs
Interpretative: codes are directly related to the theoretical variables
(describe the theory)
Descriptive: denotes data characteristics
Situational: describe the situation
(describethe setting)

Question 9

Qualitative Data Steps
2. Data Analysis
Phase 2: Axial Coding
(DR/IR)

Answer 9

Look for patterns.
DR: order codes for decision-making and hypotheses tenability
IR: order codes for theory development

Question 10

Qualitative Data Steps
3. Interpretation (2)

Answer 10

Data and codes become integrated
1. Pattern Matching: look for patterns
2. Counting: frequency

Question 11

Advantages of Qualitative Data
Validity & Reliability (3)

Answer 11

1. Reliability: repeated analysis
2. External Validity: generalisation
3. Internal Validity: Plausibility

Question 12

Disadvantages of Qualitative Data
Validity & Reliability (2)

Answer 12

1. Too subjective (bias)
2. Hinders causality due to lack of statistical significance.