Type author names here Social Research Methods Chapter 24: Qualitative data analysis Alan Bryman Slides authored by Tom Owens

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Qualitative data analysis General strategies: –analytic induction –grounded theory Coding: –steps –considerations –problems Page 565

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Analytic induction A rigorous search for universal explanation of phenomena: 1. Rough definition of research question 2. Hypothetical explanation 3. Data collection (examination of cases) 4. If any deviant cases found, redefine or reformulate hypothesis 5. Continue until all cases fit hypothesis Pages 566, 567

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition The process of analytic induction Figure 24.1 Page 566

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Grounded theory Theory is derived from the data, which are systematically gathered and analysed Iterative process –repetitive interplay between data collection and analysis / theory building Developments in grounded theory –Straussian model more prescriptive –term used loosely by researchers today Distinction between tools and outcomes Pages 567, 568

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Tools of grounded theory Theoretical sampling Coding –begins during initial stages of research –important first step in generating theory –progressive Theoretical saturation Constant comparison (between concepts/indicators) Page 568

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Outcomes of grounded theory Concepts (produced by open coding) Categories (higher level of abstraction) –core categories Properties (attributes of a category) Hypotheses (initial hunches) Theory –explanation of relationship between concepts –substantive or formal theory Page 570

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Processes and outcomes in grounded theory Figure 24.2 Page 571

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Memos Notes written by researchers to themselves Help to generate concepts and categories –reminder of what terms mean –encourage reflective thinking about emerging ideas –crystallize ideas and keep researcher on track e.g. bus industry study (Bryman et al, 1996) –in vivo code: ‘inheritance’ of company traits and traditions from pre-deregulation period Pages

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Criticisms of grounded theory Researcher cannot suspend awareness of theories and concepts (Bulmer, 1979) Funding proposals require clear statement of aims, theories and research questions Time consuming Does not necessarily produce a theory - usually specific explanations of substantive issues Confusing use of terms ‘concepts’ and ‘categories’ Fragments data - loss of context and narrative flow (Coffey & Atkinson, 1996) Competing accounts of what is involved Pages 574, 575

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Considerations in developing codes Of what general category is this item of data an instance? What does this item of data represent? What is this item of data about? Of what topic is this item of data an instance? What question about a topic does this item of data suggest? What sort of answer to a question about a topic does this item of data imply? What is happening here? What are people doing? What do people say they are doing? What kind of event is going on? Page 575

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Steps and considerations in coding 1.Code as soon as possible 2.Read through your initial set of transcripts 3.Do it again !! 4.Review your codes 5.Consider more general theoretical ideas in relation to codes and data 6.Any one item or slice of data can and often should be coded in more than one way 7.Do not worry about generating what seem to be too many codes 8.Keep coding in perspective – it is not analysis Pages 576, 577

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Turning data into fragments –Cut and paste / code and retrieve –not just a mechanical task of data management, coding helps to generate ideas and build theory Pages 578

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Problems with coding Losing the context of what was said (extracting sections of data) Fragmentation of data - loss of narrative flow (Coffey & Atkinson, 1996) Narrative analysis as solution? (Riessman, 1993) Risk of only providing descriptive account of data rather than theorizing Page 578

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Thematic analysis One of the most common approaches to qualitative data analysis Not an approach to analysis that has an identifiable heritage or that has been outlined in terms of a distinctive cluster of techniques Framework: National Centre for Social Research in the UK - ‘matrix-based method for ordering and synthesising data’ (Ritchie et al, 2003) Pages

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Using Framework for Bryman’s Disney study Figure 24.3 Page 579

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Narrative analysis Storied nature of human recounting of lives and events (contents of data) –elicited personal narratives (Mishler, 1986) –life history / biographical approach Narrative account produced in the interview (form of data; the sources themselves) –narrative analysis of transcripts (Riessman, 1993) –certain kinds of question tend to elicit a narrative Pages

Bryman: Social Research Methods, 4 th edition Secondary analysis of qualitative data Secondary analysis offers rich opportunities not least because the tendency for qualitative researchers to generate large and unwieldy sets of data means that much of the material remains under-explored. But, it may be hard to understand the original context and there may be ethical issues concerning participant permissions. Qualidata Qualidata Qualidata Qualidata is an archival resource centre, established in 1994, and can be a useful reference point. Pages 586, 587