Qualitative analysis

Qualitiative Analysis 1. In positivistic research, the main goal of analysis is to assess how the data helps answer the research question(s) and refine its theoretical basis; analysis takes place in one fairly specific point of the process. In qualitative research, analysis is part of almost every part of the process, often including writing the report of the study.

2. Instead of being as objective as possible, interpretivistic research to varying extents accepts— and even somewhat celebrates— the subjective contribution of the researcher.

Despite what many quantitative researchers believe, this approach does have rigor, though a different and less formulaic version of it, than positivistic methods.

3. Because interpretivistic methods are much more inductive, the methods (including analysis) vary widely compared to positivistic research. This makes it much harder to identify and suggest a single approach. It also makes it harder to conduct qualitative analysis, since the burden is more on the researcher and less on an established structure.

There are two key approaches: grounded and ethnographic. In both, theory emerges during data collection itself.

4. In the “grounded” approach, the data are intensively studied so that patterns emerge that help develop theory about that particular case; at each step, a “constant comparative” method compares existing theoretical concepts with ones that are emerging.

5. Ethnographic approaches, based on anthropology, emphasize on-the-spot analysis of “thick description”: at the end of every day of data collection, field notes are elaborated in analysis that continues in parallel until the end of data collection and beyond. Then these analyses are analyzed as a whole for deeper, broader conclusions and insights.

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