ANALYZING THE MEANING OF QUALITATIVE DATA

INSTRUCTION:

CONTENT ANALYSIS
-This technique could be used when qualitative data had been collected through interviews, focus
groups, observations and documentary analyses.
- This procedure is used to categorize oral or spoken words, or a person's conduct or behavior,
sorting, grouping, codification and tabulation.
- Content analysis also involves coding and classifying of the data, also referred to as categorizing
and coding or indexing.
-The aim of content analysis is to make sense of data and to make inferences about the messages
or findings.

TWO LEVELS OF CONTENT ANALYSIS

a. Descriptive discussion- specifies what was said and no further explanation or comments on
how and why it was said should be done.
b. Interpretative analysis- combines the specific responses

STEPS IN CONTENT ANALYSIS

1. Prepare your data
2. Determine the unit of analysis
3. Develop the categories and coding system
4. Pre-test the coding system
5. Code all the textual data
6. Check the validity and reliability of the data
7. Draw inferences
8. Present the results.

THEMATIC ANALYSIS
-This is a form of pattern recognition within the data. It provides a simple interpretation and concise
description of themes and patterns in the data set. The general procedure involves a careful review
of the raw data. You identify the themes after coding and categorizing the data.

STEPS IN THEMATIC ANALYSIS (Braun and Clarke, 2006)

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

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CONTENT ANALYSIS AND THEMATIC ANALYSIS

The following are the main differences:
1. Content analysis focuses more on how frequently various categories appear or occur while
thematic analysis is involved in identifying themes and analyzing each theme to build up the whole
picture of the data.
2. Thematic analysis can be more in-depth and broader in analysis and understanding.
3. Content analysis can be used for both qualitative and quantitative data while thematic analysis
is mainly used for qualitative research.
4. Content analysis is focused on codes while thematic analysis is more focused on themes
 RELATING THE RESEARCH FINDINGS WITH PERTINENT LITERATURE

-The discussion of your research findings should not only tackle the summary of the results you
have found but it should also depict novelty or original thinking.This discussion should give you the
following opportunities:

1. The opportunity to highlight and discuss how the findings of your study have reinforced what has
already been done by other student researchers in the same area. Clear links should be established
to the literature you have reviewed for the research project.

2. The opportunity to study carefully how your study reflects or differs from existing knowledge of the
area where you have chosen to conduct your research. You can compare your findings with the
results of other studies in the same field. You identify the differences and similarities between your
findings and the existing works and findings of other students. You make an outline of the comparison
and explain fully the analysis of the results.

3. The opportunity to discuss the contribution of the findings of your study to the body in so doing, you
are of existing literature and knowledge. You can explain how your research findings extend further
with current happenings to the research area. Justifying the contribution of your work to the field.

4. The opportunity to explain why you thought it necessary to embark on the research you have done.
You have to identify the gaps in current works of other researchers about the topic of interest which
will justify the need for your research.