Data Analysis in Qualitative Research

Author: Thorne (2000)

Presented By: Tayyab Ali Baig

Date: April 25th, 2024

Strategic Marketing Research

Department of Management Sciences
Introduction
• Data analysis is considered the most complex and mysterious phase of a qualitative
project.
• It is often overlooked in literature discussions, especially for novice nurse
researchers.
• While data collection strategies may feel familiar, creating a database alone is
insufficient for qualitative studies.
• Active and demanding analytic processes are essential throughout all research phases
to transform raw data into new knowledge.
• Understanding these processes is crucial for conducting, reading, understanding, and
interpreting qualitative research.
Qualitative Data
• Qualitative data in nursing studies often consist of interview transcripts from open-
ended, exploratory interviews.
• The database in qualitative research can include various sources like recorded
observations, focus groups, texts, documents, multimedia, and autobiographical
accounts.
• Qualitative data encompass anything not in numerical form, distinguishing them
from quantitative data.
• Qualitative researchers focus on subjective experiences, social contexts, and
historical perspectives to uncover knowledge about human thoughts and feelings.
• Qualitative studies rely on inductive reasoning processes to interpret and structure
meanings derived from data.
Qualitative Analytic Reasoning Process
• Qualitative research typically uses inductive reasoning to generate ideas from data,
while quantitative research often starts with hypotheses to confirm or refute.
• Quantitative studies aim to develop specific, causal, and theoretical explanations,
while qualitative research focuses on interpreting meanings and deconstructing
phenomena.
• The distinction between explaining how something operates (explanation) and why it
operates in a certain way (interpretation) helps differentiate quantitative and
qualitative analytic processes.
• Data collection and analysis in qualitative research are intertwined, with new
analytic steps informing further data collection and vice versa.
• Qualitative data analysis involves transforming raw data into a coherent depiction of
the studied phenomenon using specific analytic strategies.
Specific Analytic Strategies
• Qualitative data analysis computer programs aid in sorting and organizing data but
do not replace the intellectual and conceptual processes required for meaningful
findings.
• Various qualitative data analysis strategies exist, each with underlying theoretical
assumptions guiding their application.
• Understanding the theoretical foundations of common analytic approaches can help
researchers and readers grasp the essence of qualitative data analysis.
• Analyzing qualitative data involves explicit steps in conceptually interpreting the
data set as a whole to create a new and coherent representation of the studied
phenomenon.
• While detailed procedural descriptions of each strategy may be extensive, grasping
the theoretical underpinnings can enhance comprehension of researchers' analytical
approaches.
1. Constant Comparative Analysis
• Constant Comparative Analysis is a qualitative analytic strategy initially developed
for grounded theory methodology by Glaser and Strauss.
• This approach involves comparing one piece of data with others to develop
conceptualizations of possible relations between different data points.
• Researchers use this method to identify common patterns and themes within human
experiences by comparing various data sources.
• Constant Comparative Analysis is suitable for studying fundamental social processes
explaining human behavior and experiences.
• While some qualitative methods focus on patterns and commonalities, others, like
phenomenological approaches, aim to uncover the essence of individual experiences
through intensive case studies.
2. Phenomenological Approaches
• Phenomenological approaches in qualitative research aim to uncover the underlying
structure or essence of human experiences through intensive study of individual
cases.
• Unlike constant comparative analysis, phenomenological studies focus on describing
the essential nature of experiences rather than finding common patterns.
• Researchers using phenomenological methods set aside preconceptions to work
inductively with data, generating new descriptions and conceptualizations.
• Popular phenomenological approaches in nursing research draw from the works of
philosophers like Husserl and Heidegger to understand modes of awareness and
being.
• These approaches emphasize depth, detail, and reflection in studying experiences as
they are lived, avoiding cross comparisons to appreciate the richness of individual
experiences.
3. Ethnographic Methods
• Ethnographic research methods in qualitative studies stem from anthropology's
tradition of interpreting cultural behaviors and practices.
• Ethnographers document aspects of human experiences such as beliefs, kinship
patterns, and ways of living within different cultural groups.
• In healthcare research, ethnographic methods are used to uncover and record
variations in how diverse social and cultural groups understand and manage health
and illness.
• Researchers employing ethnographic methods immerse themselves in the culture
through fieldwork or participant observation to portray the culture through textual
representations.
• Ethnographic studies in nursing and healthcare explore how different social and
cultural groups perceive and respond to health-related issues, providing valuable
insights into diverse perspectives.
4. Narrative Analysis and Discourse Analysis
• Narrative analysis and discourse analysis are qualitative research strategies that focus
on understanding human experiences through linguistic representations.
• Narrative analysis involves interpreting and representing individuals' stories in
narrative form to gain insights into their lived experiences and sense-making
processes.
• Discourse analysis, on the other hand, examines speech as a constructed linguistic
tool shaped by societal influences to uncover underlying ideologies and societal
norms.
• Both approaches rely on speech as a primary data form but differ in their objectives:
narrative analysis seeks to understand individual experiences, while discourse
analysis aims to uncover societal influences on communication.
• These analytical strategies help researchers explore and interpret the meanings
embedded in language and storytelling, providing valuable insights into human
experiences and social constructs.
Cognitive Processes Inherent in Qualitative Analysis
• Qualitative research involves various cognitive processes that interact with data to
generate new knowledge.
• These processes include comprehending the phenomenon under study, synthesizing a
comprehensive portrait of the phenomenon, theorizing about the relationships within
the data, and recontextualizing the new knowledge within existing frameworks.
• Researchers engage in intellectual activities to consider, examine, and reformulate
raw data into a coherent research product.
• The specific steps involved in qualitative analysis may vary based on research
questions, the researcher's orientation, and the study's context.
• Understanding these cognitive processes is essential for researchers to effectively
analyze qualitative data and develop meaningful findings.
Quality Measures in Qualitative Analysis
• Traditionally, qualitative researchers viewed issues like reliability and validity as
irrelevant, relying on readers' acceptance of study claims for validation.
• Recent trends in qualitative research emphasize systematic, rigorous, and auditable
analytical processes as key factors in distinguishing good quality research.
• Researchers are encouraged to articulate findings in a manner that makes the logical
processes behind them accessible to critical readers.
• It is essential for researchers to explicitly link data to conclusions, rendering claims
about the data set credible and believable.
• By understanding and applying quality measures in qualitative analysis, researchers
and readers can critically evaluate studies and determine the applicability of findings
to nursing practice.
Conclusion
• Qualitative data analysis is a complex and crucial phase in research, often receiving
less attention than data collection.
• Understanding the processes involved in qualitative analysis is essential for
conducting and interpreting qualitative research effectively.
• Researchers must engage in active and demanding analytic processes to transform
raw data into new knowledge.
• Quality measures in qualitative analysis have evolved, emphasizing systematic,
rigorous, and auditable analytical processes.
• Articulating findings in a transparent manner and linking data to conclusions are key
aspects of ensuring the credibility and believability of qualitative research.
• By critically evaluating individual qualitative studies, readers can determine the
relevance of findings to nursing practice and enhance their understanding of
qualitative research methodologies.
Thank You !!!