Qualitative Data Analysis

Qualitative Data Analysis

Qualitative data is the non- numeric information that is gathered from interviews transcripts, audio and video recordings, texts and image textbooks.

Organizing data

Data collected during the research is organized in a manner that will facilitate the process analysis to be easy. Sources of data can be from interviews either written or recorded, observation notes, questionnaires, surveys or official documents. In research, some several respondents and participants are involved in research which gives information on the topic of research under study. To code and extricate data from several sources can be very challenging, but if the data is organized correctly, it becomes easy. Various steps are involved in organizing data, and these are,

Step 1; review the entire data that is collected. Collected data needs to be reread again so that patterns and themes can start to develop. The patterns or the topics are assigned symbols, numbers or letters to differentiate the different categories. There are three types of coding which are open, axial and selective coding. Open coding usually comprises trying to make logic of the raw information. Axial coding entails linking and interconnecting Selective coding involves articulating the story by connecting the different categories.

Step 2; a code table is created so that codes can be consistent and readily accessible for multiple researchers. Usually using different researchers is good to incorporate diverse perspectives in data analysis.

Step 3; Separate the data into the groups. Once the data set has been coded, the collected data are is then grouped according to the various codes. This makes data analysis and discussion to be easy. Analysis and review of the data focus on the multiple themes that are noted in the data.

Step 4; Data is organized by a question, topic or respondent. Grouping responses of a single question together help ease the process of analyzing and discussion of the collected data. The data can also be grouped into topics to discuss and analyze.

Coding and thematic development

Respondents give information in different ways based on their understanding of the questions asked during an interview, survey, or when filling in a questionnaire. The wording of responses can differ from one respondent to the other. Answers to a given question that are closely related are labelled using a similar code or symbol. There are different ways in which one can code the various forms of data obtained from the research. Structural code is useful in analyzing qualitative data because passages and responses with terms that are closely related are given a similar code to analyze and discuss.

After coding is complete, the next step is analyzing the overall content of the data. Information collected from surveys, interviews either written or oral, questionnaire or from written sources can at times prove to be very complex to analyze and discuss. Therefore, it is essential to develop themes that will help group the diverse responses or information gathered during research. A review of literature helps in identifying various topics and ideas, and they are recognized during and after analysis. Research questions of research help determine different issues of the investigation since each item is designed to find out a particular concept in research. Identification of the various themes in research helps in making analysis and discussions of the findings in a research simple.

Triangulation

One can use one or more methods of data collections on the same topic. Using more than one approach when collecting data on one particular topic assures the validity of the research and data collected. Triangulation enhances the authentication of data collected during an investigation through cross verification from various sources. Triangulation is very enriching in research in that using different researchers in data collection helps diversify the analysis of the data collected.

There are four categories of triangulation. Triangulation of data involves persons, space and time. It consists in having different respondents over a specific time and space. This help determines the reliability of the information being collected. Investigator triangulation involves employing different researchers when collecting and analyzing data. Using several researchers help promote the credibility and reliability of the information collected. Theory triangulation encompasses various theoretical scheme in the analysis and understanding of the collected data. Methodological triangulation entails the use of more than one method of collecting data during research.

Using software application

Research involves designing various data collection methods, data collection and its analysis. The process of collecting, analyzing and discussing data can be very tiring since it is time-consuming. Analysis of qualitative data begins with the process of preparing and analyzing the data. Afterwards, the collected data is coded and classified into themes to analyze and discuss for presentation. A research instrument or instruments is designed to collect data for given research. The software can be used to develop the different questions that will be asked during an interview, survey, observation or study.

Using a computer in the process of data collection and analysis is very beneficial and saves a lot of time and energy. The collected data is divided into various categories and themes using data application software. The available software applications help organize the collected data into different categories, develop the required topics and provide a well-detailed analysis of the collected data. Technology is evolving at a very high rate, and people are now moving towards the use of software application to analyze and discuss the received data during particular research.kkkkkkkkkkkkkk