Watson-Gegeo (1988,1997) divided cyclical data analysis into

three distinct stages:

• Comprehensive: In which all possible aspects of a chosen context are
researched.
5 • Topic oriented: In which the topic is clarified through preliminary
analysis and focused data collection.
• Hypothesis oriented: In which hypotheses are generated based on
data.
The hypotheses are then tested through further focused and structured interviews,
10 observations, and systematic analysis. In short, cyclical research is the
process by which researchers bring increasing focus to their topic of interest.

Watson-Gegeo (1988,1997) divided cyclical data analysis into

three distinct stages:
15 • Comprehensive: In which all possible aspects of a chosen context are
researched.
• Topic oriented: In which the topic is clarified through preliminary
analysis and focused data collection.
• Hypothesis oriented: In which hypotheses are generated based on
20 data.
The hypotheses are then tested through further focused and structured interviews,
observations, and systematic analysis. In short, cyclical research is the
process by which researchers bring increasing focus to their topic of interest.

25 A similar approach that guides qualitative data analysis is known as

grounded theory. This also involves developing theory based on, or
grounded in, data that have been systematically gathered and analyzed.
Grounded theory attempts to avoid placing preconceived notions on the
data, with researchers preferring to let the data guide the analysis. Using
30 grounded theory, researchers often aim to examine data from multiple vantage
points to help them arrive at a more complete picture of the phenomena
under investigation.

In analyzing qualitative data, researchers must pay attention to three concerns

35 that arise as part of the research: credibility, transferability and dependability.
In terms of credibility, because qualitative research can be based on the assumption of multiple,
constructed realities, it may be more important for qualitative researchers to demonstrate that their
findings are credible to their research population. Fraenkel and Wallen (2003) suggested several
techniques to enhance credibility, including continuing
40 the data collection over a long enough period of time to ensure that the
participants have become used to the researcher and are behaving naturally.
They also suggested collecting data in as many contexts and situations
as possible to make certain that the picture provided in the research
is as full and complete as it can be.
45 For transferability in qualitative research, the research context is seen as
integral. Although qualitative research findings are rarely directly transferable
from one context to another, the extent to which findings may be transferred
depends on the similarity of the context. Important for determining
similarity of context is the method of reporting known as "thick description,"
50 which refers to the process of using multiple perspectives to explain
the insights gleaned from a study, and taking into account the actors' interpretations
of their actions and the speakers' interpretations of their speech.
 Davis (1995) distinguished three essential components of thick description:
• Particular description: Representative examples from the data.
• General description: Information about the patterns in the data.
• Interpretive commentary: Explanation of the phenomena researched
5 and interpretation of the meaning of the findings with respect to
previous research.

The idea behind thick description is that if researchers report their findings
with sufficient detail for readers to understand the characteristics of
10 the research context and participants, the audience will be able to compare
the research situation with their own and thus determine which findings
may be appropriately transferred to their setting. Other steps can be taken
to augment the transferability of research.

15 the data on which they are basing their claims or interpretations. This is
similar to the concept of replicability in quantitative research, with the
point being that another researcher should be able to examine the data and
confirm, modify, or reject the first researcher's interpretations.
For dependability, researchers aim to fully characterize the research context
20 and the relationships among the participants. To enhance dependability,
researchers may ask the participants themselves to review the patterns in the data. Electronically
recorded data can help to recreate the data collection
context and allow the researcher to make use of all interpretive cues in
order to draw inferences and evaluate the dependability of the inferences
25 that have been drawn. Recordings can also help research participants and
other researchers working in similar contexts to assess whether dependable
inferences have been derived from the data.

Triangulation involves using multiple research techniques and multiple

30 sources of data in order to explore the issues from all feasible perspectives.
Using the technique of triangulation can aid in credibility, transferability
confirmability and dependability. This important concept is discussed next.
The most common definition
of triangulation, however, is that it entails the use of multiple, independent
35 methods of obtaining data in a single investigation in order to arrive at the
same research findings.
As Johnson (1992) noted, "[T]he value of triangulation is that it reduces
observer or interviewer bias and enhances the validity and reliability (accuracy)
of the information"
40
By collecting data through a variety of
means, the researcher helps address many of the concerns with the various
qualitative data collection methods that were pointed out earlier in this
chapter. One method alone cannot provide adequate support. It may take
45 two or more independent sources to support the study and its conclusions.