3/11 Qualitative research issues
Establishing Trustworthiness: In qualitative research data must be auditable through checking that the interpretations are credible, transferable, dependable and confirmable.
Credibility improved through long engagement with the respondents or triangulation in data collection (internal validity)
Transferability achieved through a detailed description of the research process to allow a reader to see if the results can be transferred to a different setting (external validity)
Dependability examined through the audit trail (reliability) e.g. member checking.
Confirmability audit trail categories used e.g. raw data included, data analysis and reduction processes described, data reconstruction and synthesis including structuring of categories and themes, process notes included, instrument development information included
Thinking about qualitative data analysis
Below is a list of actions you might complete as part of some qualitative data collection and analysis. There are nine steps for you to allocate a number of order. You can type the number you think the task would be done in e.g. one for the first step through to nine for the final step. There are no right or wrong answers however, after you complete the task, you can view the order we might approach it.
Summary sheets for each response - This is usually done after you have transcribed your notes, summaries can then be used as a memory jogger when your are looking for categories and themes, or if you need to return to observe or ask further questions.
Discussion - This usually takes place after you have done some analysis of your data, when you have found out if any interesting patterns or themes have emerged
Conclusion - Conclusions sum up the analysis your have done of your data and any interesting discussions
Initial Processing - This is usually done once you transcribed you notes, it usually involved reading and re-reading your notes looking for categories and themes
Return to observe or ask further questions - This is usually done after you have done some initial processing, and can then be done at any time during your study if and when required
Identify categories relating to patterns or themes identified - This is usually done after you have identified the core categories of your study, which are found in your transcribed notes
Recommendations - Recommendations tend to come at the end of you study, they may include specific recommendations relating to the findings of your study or may suggest where extra data collection and analysis activities are required
Transcription of notes - This is usually the first action after you have collected your data from questionnaires, interviews, observation etc
Coding - This is usually done after you have identified categories relating to the patterns or themes identified
1. Transcription of notes - This is usually the first action after you have collected your data from questionnaires, interviews, observation etc
2. Initial processing - This is usually done once you transcribed you notes, it usually involved reading and re-reading your notes looking for categories and themes
3. Return to observe or ask further questions - This is usually done after you have done some initial processing, and can then be done at any time during your study if and when required
4. Summary sheets for each response - This is usually done after you have transcribed your notes, summaries can then be used as a memory jogger when your are looking for categories and themes, or if you need to return to observe or ask further questions
5. Identify categories relating to patterns or themes identified - This is usually done after you have identified the core categories of your study, which are found in your transcribed notes
6. Coding - This is usually done after you have identified categories relating to the patterns or themes identified.
7. Discussion - This usually takes place after you have done some analysis of your data, when you have found out if any interesting patterns or themes have emerged
8. Conclusions - Conclusions sum up the analysis your have done of your data and any interesting discussions
9. Recommendations - Recommendations tend to come at the end of you study, they may include specific recommendations relating to the findings of your study or may suggest where extra data collection and analysis activities are required
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