Qualitative

Data Analysis
Ervin A. Flores
Cherielyn B. Perez
Transcription
Coding
Categorization
Thematic Analysis
Contextual Analysis
Qualitative Data Analysis
Simply the process of examining
qualitative data to derive an
explanation for a specific
phenomenon.
Gives you an understanding of your
research objective by revealing
patterns and themes in your data.
 2 Main Approaches to
Qualitative Data Analysis

 Deductive Approach

 Inductive Approach
 Deductive Inductive
Approach Approach
 Data based on a  Not based on a
structure that is predetermined
predetermined by structure or set
the researcher. ground
 Researcher has a fair rules/framework.
idea about the likely  Researcher has very
responses from little or no idea of
sample population. the research
phenomenon.
 Principles of Qualitative Data Analysis
 People differ in their experience and understanding
of reality (constructivist-many meanings).
 A social phenomenon can’t be understood outside
its own context (Context-bound).
 Qualitative research can be used to describe
phenomenon or generate theory grounded on data.
 Understanding human behaviour emerges slowly
and non-linearly.
 Exceptional cases may yield insights into a problem
or new idea for further inquiry
 Common Terms Used in Qualitative
Data Analysis
Theory: A set of interrelated concepts,
definitions and propositions that presents a
systematic view of events or situations by
specifying relations among variables.
 Themes: categorical ideas that emerge from
grouping of lower-level data points .
Characteristic: a single item or event in a
text, similar to an individual response to a
variable or indicator in a quantitative
research. It is the smallest unit of analysis .
 Common Terms Used in Qualitative
Data Analysis
Coding: the process of attaching labels to lines of
text so that the researcher can group and compare
similar or related pieces of information.
Coding sorts: compilation of similarly coded blocks
of text from different sources in to a single file or
report.
Indexing: process that generates a word list
comprising all the substantive words and their
location within the texts entered in to program.
 Features of Qualitative Data Analysis
Analysis is circular and non-linear.
Iterative and progressive.
Close interaction with the data.
Data collection and analysis is
simultaneous.
Level of analysis varies.
Uses inflection i.e. “this was good”.
Can be sorted in many ways.
Qualitative data by itself has meaning, i.e.
“apple”.
 10 Tips for Effective Qualitative Data
Analysis
1. Make notes always

2. Ask questions and find answers to them

3. Start out with existing secondary data while waiting

for interview or questionnaire data

4. Surround yourself with relevant literature and refer to

them all through your analysis

5. Watch out for patterns and themes during your data

analysis
6. Compare your findings to that of other relevant
studies in your niche to find relationships

7. Always get a second opinion from an expert

8. Always work with organized data or you might be

overwhelmed

9. Ensure you have resources for the project before

starting

10. Don’t use computer software randomly just

because they’re free, go only for the best or you
could end up with invalid findings.
Click icon to add picture
Transcription
 Transcription is
conducted of
individual or group
interviews and
generally written
verbatim (exactly
word-for word).
Click icon to add picture
Coding
Explained as a
categorization of
data.

Can be a word or
short phrase that
represents a theme
or an idea
Categorization

 A major component of qualitative data

analysis by which investigators attempt to
group patterns observed in the data into
meaningful units or categories.
Thematic
 Thematic analysis is a method of
analyzing qualitative data. It is usually
applied to a set of texts, such
as interview transcripts. The researcher
closely examines the data to identify
common themes – topics, ideas and
patterns of meaning that come up
repeatedly.
Contextual
 Is simply an analysis of a text (in whatever
medium, including multi-media) that helps us
to assess that text within the context of its
historical and cultural setting, but also in terms
of its textuality – or the qualities that
characterize the text as a text.