chapter 4

Flashcards on Qualitative Data Analysis

Emic vs. Etic Focus

An emic focus represents a setting with the participant’s terms, while an etic focus represents a setting with the researcher’s terms.

Qualitative Research Goals

Meaning, Context, Process, Reasoning

Types of Qualitative Data

Written field notes, Audio recordings of conversations, Video recordings of activities, and Diary recordings of activities/thoughts

Qualitative vs. Quantitative Data Analysis

Focus on meanings; Few rather than many cases; In depth rather than general categories; Researcher as instrument; Sensitivity to context; Attention to impact of values on analysis; Goal of rich descriptions

Five Steps of Qualitative Data Analysis

Documentation of data and data collection; Conceptualization and coding; Examining relationships; Authenticating conclusions; Reflexivity

Field Note Tips

Write as soon as you can; Take notes in the setting; Fill in details in your notes as needed; Ensure your field notes are clear and understandable; Use pseudonyms for names, locations, etc.

Coding (Qualitative Data)

Coding is the process of naming or labeling the data, categories, and properties using words, phrases, or meaning units repeated in the data.

Coding Process: Code -> Categories -> Themes

Codes divide text into a word or phrase/label. Categories (subcategories) sort the codes into categories based on how different codes are related. Themes identify a central category and relate it to other categories.

Concept Driven (Deductive) vs. Data-Driven (Inductive) Coding

Deductive coding develops codes before the coding process begins, while inductive coding has no pre-developed system of codes.

External vs. Internal framework

External Framework is Deductive coding, Internal Framework is Inductive coding

Codebook

A codebook is a dictionary or guidebook of all codes in a project, providing guidelines for consistent coding, code names, definitions, and examples.

Examining relationships and displaying data

Centerpiece of analytic process.

Reflexivity

Confidence in conclusions strengthened by account of how researcher interacted with subjects or groups.

Trustworthiness (Qualitative Data)

Findings are reasonable, reflect participants’ views/experience, apply to other people/time periods, show researcher neutrality, and demonstrate consistency in procedures.

Threats of trustworthiness

Reactivity and Researcher's Biases

Alternatives in Qualitative Data Analysis

Content Analysis, Grounded Theory, Narrative Analysis, Conversation Analysis, Visual Sociology

Content analysis

Examines and quantifies the presence of certain words, subjects, and concepts in text, image, video, or audio messages.

Narrative Analysis

Narrative Analysis focuses on how respondents impose order on their experiences and make sense of events.

Conversation Analysis

Conversation Analysis is a method for analyzing ordinary conversation using sequentially organized interactions.

Visual Sociology

The social world is observed and interpreted through photographs, films, and other images. Video recording is increasingly popular.

Benefits of Mixed Methods

Reinforce each other, create greater depth of understanding, reveal/correct errors, fill in complex processes, offset weaknesses, and help understand complex issues.

Validity Threats

Bias and Reactivity

Types of Generalizability

Internal extends within the group studied, External extends outside the group studied, and Face does not present reason to believe results do not generalize.

Ethical issues in Qualitative Data Analysis

Research integrity and quality, Ownership of data and conclusions, and Use and misuse of results

Effective research reports

relevant background information, methodology description, key findings, summary statements, clear implications, limitations, accessibility, and cited data sources.