Analysis of Qualitative Data

Dr. Endah Saptutyningsih

Diah Setyawati Dewanti, PhD
Analysis is about…..
• Thinking about what responses or observations mean: What
do they suggest? What is their significance?

In the light of your research aim and questions

NB. data could suggest that you need to refine your research questions

• Identifying trends and patterns - similarities and differences

within your data set
 Introduction
• Qualitative data analysis can be described as the process of making sense from
research participants’ views and opinions of situations, corresponding
patterns, themes, categories and regular similarities (Cohen et al, 2007)
• Nieuwenhuis (2007: 99-100) captures the essence of data analysis well, when
he provides the following definition of qualitative data analysis that serves as a
good working definition:
• Gibbs (2007: Vol 6:1) qualitative data analysis is a process of transformation of
collected qualitative data, done by means of analytic procedures, into a clear,
understandable, insightful, trustworthy and even original analysis.
• Creswell (2013: p 44) refer to meaning as the intention of the original author
and further state that data analysis is both inductive and deductive and
establishes patterns or themes
• Patton (2002: p 432) describe that qualitative analysis transforms data into
findings, it is involves by reducing the volume of raw information, sifting
significance from trivia, identifying significant patterns and constructing a
framework for communicating the essence of what the data reveal.
 There are different kinds of
qualitative data-analysis
• (Content analysis) Quantifying qualitative
data

• Grounded Theory
• Discourse analysis Qualitative Analysis

• Thematic analysis
 I. Content analysis: Seeks to
quantify qualitative data
• Content analysis: Example:
Interview study about illness beliefs
a. Uses pre-determined,
mutually exclusive Responses to interview question: what do
codes (deductive you believe is the cause of illness x?
approach)
Responses allocated to 3 categories/codes.
b. Allocates content
according to objective Type of causal belief Number of
rules or definitions responses
(%)
c. Quantification: Counts
number of ‘hits’ in a 1. Socio-cultural 50%
certain category (witchcraft, God)
2. Biological cause 20%
3. Other 30%
 II. Grounded Theory

Grounded theory (Glaser & Strauss, 1967):

 A method of data collection and analysis
 A product: Theory

 Seeks to develop new theories which are grounded in data,

instead of relying on pre-existing hypotheses.

 Several specific analytic strategies and iterative steps, e.g.

further ‘theoretical sampling’ after initial data collection and
analysis

 Too elaborate & time-consuming for your MSc project

NB. A watered-down version of GT is basically thematic analysis

 III. Thematic analysis looks for patterns,
recurrent themes in data

Thematic analysis:

• Organizes, describes and interprets a data set, by reporting

patterns (themes) within data (Braun & Clarke, 2006, p. 79).
• Often adds theoretical interpretation

• Quantification is possible, but not the main goal

• Inductive and deductive coding possible
 Procedure of Thematic Analysis
1. Transcribing
2. Organizing your data
3. Reading & re-reading
4. Coding & categorising

5. Examining Relationships and Displaying Data

6. Authenticating Conclusions
7. Reflexivity
 Coding proceeds in multiple steps
3) Reading & re-reading
4) Coding & categorising:
i. ‘Open coding’ : Initial labelling of responses to capture their
meaning. Initial codes are often very concrete, close to the text.

II. Reflection on early coding: Do the codes ‘fit’? Do you feel like you
have to ‘force’ some extracts into a code? Might a different label
(code) be better?

III. Identification of commonalities (patterns) and differences within

and across interviews: Generate more abstract, recurrent themes
& sub-themes.
 Coding proceeds in multiple steps
IV. Identify relationships between categories & units (you could use tables)
– Does a certain theme tend to occur with certain respondents with
particular characteristics, experiences etc.?

V. Deviant case analysis: Look out for ‘odd one out’, cases that don’t fit
your coding scheme.
 What’s different about this case?
 If no reason can be thought of, consider adjusting your ‘finding’.

VI. Draw conclusions about themes & relationships (between themes, and
between categories and units), in light of:
a) your research question
b) research findings published before
c) theories
Another Steps of Qualitative Data Analysis

Based on Best and Khan (2006, p.270)

Which define as follows:
1. Analysis and Presentation
 Data Analysis – The Patient’s Role
 Unlikely you will be running the analysis entirely by yourself!

 But, you may have the opportunity to:

 Code unstructured data
 Have input into the types of analysis to run
 Review the analysis results, and help interpret the findings
 Suggest changes to the way the analysis is run

 To do those things, you need a basic understanding of how to read

and interpret tables, charts, and other types of data analysis
output
 A Qualitative data is based on narrative
information, not numerically ‘measurable’
information (e.g. What does age 47 feel like?)

Perception
Quotation
Experience/Observation
Open ended Questions
Data File
Formats Social Media Chat: Can Pets Help
People with Chronic Illness?

Getting my puppy has made so many

• Transcript (from days so much better.

FGD or Interview My dogs are my heating pads, my

laughter, my secret keepers, my
• Audio and Video exercise, my bed warmers, my heart and
Recordings soul. They're there at night when I need
to cry over the pain without judgment.
• Social Media Posts My cats, horse, and pup give me a
reason to get out of bed on the tough
days.
 Qual Data Analysis: What is Coding?
Not computer programming “coding”

Rather: Sifting through verbatim responses in patients’

own words, and “bucketizing” the results according to
themes you detect

Used for both qualitative and quantitative research

 Patient insight can be very useful here

But also could introduce bias, so be aware
16
 Discussion - Coding
What codes would you create for the following?

What do you think of this website?

 The graphics are appealing
 The material is interesting

 I couldn’t find what I was looking for

 The font size is a bit too small

 I like the variety of information

 The information is presented in a way that is easy to

understand
 I like the overall look

 It’s hard to see on my smartphone

Qualitative Analysis – Word Clouds
2. Interpretation and Conclusions