3. Qualitative Data Analysis.docx

CRITICAL READING: CORNELL NOTES Qualitative Data Analysis Name: Date: 18 August 2023 Section: Lecture 3 Period: Questions/Main Ideas/Vocabulary Notes/Answers/Definitions/Examples/Sentences Six Steps to Thematic Analysis Familiarisation with data: This phase involves reading and re-r...

CRITICAL READING: CORNELL NOTES Qualitative Data Analysis Name: Date: 18 August 2023 Section: Lecture 3 Period: Questions/Main Ideas/Vocabulary Notes/Answers/Definitions/Examples/Sentences Six Steps to Thematic Analysis Familiarisation with data: This phase involves reading and re-reading the data to become immersed and intimately familiar with its content. Coding: This phase involves generating succinct labels (codes) that identify features of the data that might be relevant to answering the research question. It involves coding the entire dataset and after that, collating all the codes and all relevant data extracts, together for later stages of analysis. Generating initial themes: This phase involves examining the codes and collated data to identify significant broader patterns of meaning (potential themes). It then involves collating data relevant to each candidate theme so that you can work with the data and review the viability of each candidate theme. Reviewing themes: This phase involves checking the candidate themes against the dataset to determine that they tell a convincing story of the data, and one that answers the research question. In this phase, themes are typically refined, which sometimes involves them being split, combined or discarded. In out thematic analysis approach, themes are defined as patterns of shared meaning underpinned by a central concept or idea. Defining and naming themes: This phase involves developing analysis of each theme, working out the scope and focus of each theme, determining the story of each. It also involves deciding on an informative name for each theme. Writing up: This final phase involves weaving together the analytic narrative and data extracts and contextualising the analysis in relation to existing literature. What are Codes? A single idea associated with a segment of text. How do you Code? Step 1: familiarisation is key. Then, consider: What is your epistemological approach? Are you only interested in what people say at face value or do you want to look at broader contextual information? Are you interested in everything your participants say or specific research questions? Mostly you would code around specific research question. This means you may not include lots of data as people talk about lots of things in interviews. What do I Actually do? Use a programme such as NVIVO. Print your interviews and cut them up or colour highlight them. Use word or excel. Deciding what to do will depend upon some methodological elements as well as pragmatic decisions. Inductive Coding This is driven from the data. Deductive Coding This is driven from theories. For example, if you had a theory about human-animal bonding, you might set up codes before you really dive into your data or look out for data that speaks to human-animal bonding. Often, you do both inductive and deductive coding. Sometimes, people cross-check themes with others – it depends on how far along the ‘qualitative’ spectrum you are. How do I Turn Codes into Themes? Mostly, this is about grouping similar codes together, and continually doing this process until you feel comfortable with a theme ‘structure’. Again, remember your research questions and also any theory you are using in your research. What Does a Good Theme/Thematic Structure Look Like? Themes should be internally consistent. You shouldn’t have too many ideas in one theme. However, it is fine to have alternative perspectives from participants where relevant. They should not repeat ideas found in other themes. There will often be an overlap across your themes, but you should aim to keep it to a minimum. They should be nuanced and tell a story. For example, in the data we looked at around refugee women’s experiences of resettlement and wellbeing, ‘work’ isn’t a good theme. Instead, ‘work makes women feel proud’ is probably a good theme. It captures a nuanced idea that responds in the research question.