© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 1 Chapter 18 Reading and Writing the Qualitative Research Report A qualitative study is not complete until the research report is written Researcher analyzes data and writes the analysis in back-and-forth reflective steps Writing the report is part of developing the interpretation of the data

© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 2 Characteristics of Qualitative Research Reports Author is a guide –Helping the reader move through unfamiliar interaction –Helping the reader see familiar interaction in a new way Does description and analysis increase readers’ understanding of how humans construct and share meaning?

© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 3 Parts of the Qualitative Research Report Introduction Summary of the literature Description of data collection and analytical techniques Report of the interpretation and analyses Implications of findings Future research

© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 4 Presenting the Core Idea or Question Introductory premise to frame what follows Provide explanations –Why researcher was in this particular setting –Why this setting is important or interesting Begin with dramatic quote or field note Or, begin with more traditional literature review

© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 5 Writing about the Method When/where the fieldwork was conducted Extent of researcher involvement in the interaction environment Detailed information about the participants, context, and scene Steps and methods for analyzing the data Extent to which data were triangulated

© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 6 Revealing Identity of Participants Keep your agreement about confidentiality and anonymity with participants May need to develop fictitious names –Sometimes must go beyond simply changing name of people, place, and organization –But do not camouflage an identity so that it is misleading

© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 7 Presenting the Data Because qualitative research produces abundant data –need to judiciously edit data to a manageable amount Decide what to tell and how to tell it –What is the basic story? –Who will do the telling? –Authorial voice?

© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 8 Authorial Voice Realist –Author narrates in third person; author almost absent; conveys the view of those observed Confessional –Researcher is present; written in first person to reveal researcher’s point of view Impressionist –Liberal use of metaphors, imagery to tell the story

© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 9 Writing Style of the Critical Scholar Foregrounds perspective of disadvantaged or marginalized groups Exposes inequalities and injustices Describes contradictions

© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 10 Criteria for Evaluating Writing Is your manuscript –Well written and engage the reader? –Effectively address multiple audiences? –Present credible and interesting data? –Ethically and politically accountable? Does your manuscript include –Reflections on your role? –An invitation to participate in the interpretation?

© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 11 Organizing Patterns Sequence of events –Good for ethnographies Critical points –Across a number of cases Order of importance –Major to minor –Minor to major

© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 12 Quoting Participants Using quotes strengthens analysis Provide frame of reference for quote Interpret all quotes Find balance between quotes and your description and analysis Short quotes are better than long ones Use only the best quotes

© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 13 Drawing and Supporting Conclusions What decisions can be made given the descriptions and analyses presented? Closing paragraphs –What has been attempted? –What has been learned? –What new questions have been raised? Consider statement of personal reflection

© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 14 Revisiting Your Analysis Analytical skills are related to writing skills –Accuracy and exactness –Economical –Conclusions should be consistent –Conclusions should ring true –Framework apparent to reader –Explain as much of the data as possible –Heuristic and fertile

© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 15 Finishing the Qualitative Research Report Title –Eliminate “A Qualitative Study of...” Title page Abstract –Overall objective of research –Brief explanation of research method –Brief summary of results

© 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. 16 Using the APA Style Manual Citing others’ work –Direct citation –Indirect citation Creating the reference list –Complete alphabetical list by authors’ last names –Includes all literature cited in the report –Accuracy