Analysing qualitative data

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CHAPTER 8 Analysing qualitative data
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Analysing qualitative data

• Learning outcomes
• Apply an appropriate process to analyse your
  qualitative data
• Identify and categorise themes and categories
  emerging from the data
• Group different items or units of data and
  examine potential relationships between them
• Evaluate alternative explanations and formulate
  credible and plausible conclusions
• Evaluate computer-assisted qualitative data
  analysis software in relation to your project
  objectives
• Evaluate the trustworthiness of your
  data-gathering and analysis process

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The qualitative data analysis process in practice
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The qualitative data analysis process
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Categorising and coding data

• Descriptive/manifest codes
• First-level codes identify them for further
  analysis later
• Case codes
• organisation codes
• sector codes
• codes for individuals
• Analytical codes
• Second-level codes
• Themes, topics, concepts, ideas
• Axial/relationship codes
• To show relationships or connections within or
  between categories or sub-categories

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The qualitative data analysis journey

1. Clarify the research questions and the data
   sources that are required to answer them
2. Make use of an appropriate sampling strategy
3. Decide on the initial categories for the analysis
4. Pilot the analysis process
5. Carry out the analysis

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Factors in drawing conclusions from qualitative
data

• Counting
• Patterning
• Clustering
• Factoring

• Relationships
• Causal networks
• Relationship to theory

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Evaluating explanations and formulating
conclusions