1. Dr Anna Tarrant a.tarrant@leeds.ac.uk School of Sociology and Social Policy @dratarrant A methodological strategy for working effectively across qualitative longitudinal datasets as a secondary researcher

2. Title Research Study The longitudinal dynamics of men’s care responsibilities in low-income localities - QSA of two Timescapes projects - Following Young Fathers - Intergenerational Exchange

3. Qualitative Secondary Analysis A valuable methodological tool Key sociological debates Epistemological issues – qualitative research as an ‘insider activity’ (Mauthner et al, 1998)? Context and working across datasets Intellectual property and research ethics

4. Title Methodological Strategy 1.Familiarisation with the datasets and determining ‘fit’ 1.Datasharing workshops o Bornat et al (2008) o Irwin and Winterton (2012) 2.Analysis across datasets

5. Title Ways to analyse across datasets: what the literature says Irwin and Winterton (2012); Irwin et al (2012) Secondary Analysis project (Timescapes) – establishing meaningful bases for comparison across diversely conceived datasets, Parents of young children; Work and Family Lives (WFL) and Men as Fathers (MaF) Inductive approach – translating concepts across datasets – time constraints

6. Title A realist methodology FYF and IE datasets not directly comparable but complementary, Realist research starts with theories rather than questions Through synthesis of these otherwise segregated primary datasets, I have produced middle-range theories in the form of hypotheses relating to the longitudinal dimensions of men’s care responsibilities Like meta-ethnography, translation of evidence between studies, Seeking to remain true to the specific contexts in which data were generated, Identifying commonalities and developing more general understanding of the phenomena under study

7. Title A realist methodology Gendered care trajectory (theoretical construct to test and refine in relation to new evidence) Cumulative hardship and changing family circumstances impact on men’s ability to fulfill their care responsibilities in low-income localities, While feeble, the model constructed from the QSA about men’s care trajectories, tells me: Provide a theoretically relevant sample (with whom – men situated along this theoretical care trajectory) Provide a focus for the research (what theories to test and refine) How I will conduct my new empirical project and generate access

8. Title Conclusions QSA is a valuable tool in supporting the process of refining research questions for new empirical projects, Given the epistemological and methodological challenges identified for secondary analysts it has been necessary to devise and employ appropriate strategies for analyzing datasets that are not familiar or directly comparable, Methodology plays an important role in conducting qualitative secondary analysis across datasets; deductive, inductive and realist approaches may be necessary