Qualitative data analysis methods

Question 1

How should interviews be transcribed?

Answer 1

VERBATIM = written words are an EXACT replication of recorded words

Question 2

How can interjections such as hm, ah, yeah, um and uh be useful?

Answer 2

They provide insight into the conversation: reflection, understanding, confusion, etc.

Question 3

What is content analysis?

Answer 3

Applied to contents of documents and other written forms of communications to identify concepts and categories

Question 4

What are the two types of content analysis?

Answer 4

1. Manifest

2. Latent

Question 5

What is manifest content?

Answer 5

Deals with visible and obvious components of the data

Question 6

What is latent content?

Answer 6

Involves interpretation fo the underlying meaning of the text

Question 7

What is thematic analysis?

Answer 7

Where you look through the participant’s answer and extract their key experiences, opinions and perspectives to address the qualitative aim and research question

Question 8

What are the 6 phases of thematic analysis?

Answer 8

1. Familiarise yourself with the data
2. Generate initial codes
3. Search for themes
4. Review themes
5. Define and name themes
6. Produce the report

Question 9

What is framework analysis?

Answer 9

Used to clarify and organise data according to key themes, concepts and emergent categories
–> influenced by characteristics of the researchers and their disciplinary paradigms

Question 10

Stages of framework analysis

Answer 10

1. Transcription
2. Familiarisation with the interview
3. Coding
4. Developing a working analytical framework
5. Applying the analytical framework
6. Charting data into the framework matrix
7. Interpreting the data

Question 11

How to enhance the credibility of research

Answer 11

• Truth value: it recognises that multiple realities exist. The researcher outlines personal experiences and viewpoints that may have resulted in methodological bias while attempting to present a participant’s perspectives
• Consistency: The methods undertaken should be clear and transparent. Ultimately, an independent researcher should be able to arrive at similar or comparable findings
• Applicability: Consideration is given to whether findings can be applied to other contexts, settings or groups
• Confirmability: Achieved when truth value, consistency and applicability have been addressed

Question 12

Ways to ensure the trustworthiness of findings

Answer 12

1. Account for and acknowledge personal bias

2. Use ongoing critical reflection of methods

Question 13

Thematic analysis does what?

Answer 13

Identifies patterns with similar meanings in the text and interprets their relationships