Analyzing Qualitative Data

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Analyzing Qualitative Data

Berg, Chapter 11Berg, Chapter 11

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Social Anthropological Approach

• Participated in the community or group.Participated in the community or group.• More than an observer. An observer will have a More than an observer. An observer will have a

different perspective than a participant.different perspective than a participant.• Understand welfare recipients by “being one”Understand welfare recipients by “being one”• Risk of “going native” means will be an Risk of “going native” means will be an

advocate for the group rather than trying to advocate for the group rather than trying to understand the groupunderstand the group

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• Multiple sources of data including Multiple sources of data including • DiariesDiaries• Field notesField notes• InterviewsInterviews• ObservationsObservations• PhotographsPhotographs• ArtifactsArtifacts• ObservationsObservations

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• Multiple sources of data including Multiple sources of data including • DiariesDiaries• Field notesField notes• InterviewsInterviews• ObservationsObservations• PhotographsPhotographs• ArtifactsArtifacts• ObservationsObservations

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• Analyze by describing regularities in Analyze by describing regularities in everyday lifeeveryday life• RitualsRituals• Verbal and nonverbal communicationVerbal and nonverbal communication• SymbolsSymbols• RelationshipsRelationships

• How do people come to understand things?How do people come to understand things?

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Collaborative Research Approach

• Understand to work with participants for Understand to work with participants for change, problem solving.change, problem solving.

• Reflexive. Share understanding, get Reflexive. Share understanding, get feedback, revise ideas. An iterative processfeedback, revise ideas. An iterative process

• Participants are “Stakeholders”Participants are “Stakeholders”

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Overview of Qualitative analysis

• Collected data is transcribed into text/videoCollected data is transcribed into text/video• Codes are inductively identified in data and Codes are inductively identified in data and

affixed to transcription.affixed to transcription.• Codes are generalized into themesCodes are generalized into themes• Data is sorted by these themesData is sorted by these themes• Meaningful patterns are identified in each themeMeaningful patterns are identified in each theme• Patterns compared to previous research, extend Patterns compared to previous research, extend

understandings.understandings.

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Quantitative Analysis

• During colonial period newspapers called the U.S. During colonial period newspapers called the U.S. the “united” States. Gradually became the the “united” States. Gradually became the “United” States. Historians counted the frequency “United” States. Historians counted the frequency the word united was capitalized.the word united was capitalized.

• Number of positive statements a person makes Number of positive statements a person makes about his/her partner in a 15 minute discussion about his/her partner in a 15 minute discussion prior to marriage is good predictor of likelihood of prior to marriage is good predictor of likelihood of divorce.divorce.

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Quantitative Analysis• Software can search text for key words and their Software can search text for key words and their

synonyms. synonyms. • This can show patterns of love, hostility, This can show patterns of love, hostility,

support, trust. support, trust. • Interviews with clients can show that words Interviews with clients can show that words

associated with distrust are extremely common associated with distrust are extremely common in one program but not another.in one program but not another.

• A simple word count, how often each word A simple word count, how often each word appears, may suggest important differences, appears, may suggest important differences, say, in how men and women describe marital say, in how men and women describe marital strengths or weaknesses.strengths or weaknesses.

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Quantitative Analysis• Software can search text for key words and their synonyms. Software can search text for key words and their synonyms.

• This can show patterns of love, hostility, support, trust. This can show patterns of love, hostility, support, trust. • Interviews with clients can show that words associated Interviews with clients can show that words associated

with distrust are extremely common in one program but with distrust are extremely common in one program but not another.not another.

• A simple word count, how often each word appears, may A simple word count, how often each word appears, may suggest important differences, say, in how men and suggest important differences, say, in how men and women describe marital strengths or weaknesses.women describe marital strengths or weaknesses.

• Imagine doing this on news coverage or editorials about a Imagine doing this on news coverage or editorials about a war that becomes unpopular. Terrorist vs. Insurgentswar that becomes unpopular. Terrorist vs. Insurgents

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Quantitative Analysis• Software can search text for key words and their Software can search text for key words and their

synonyms. synonyms. • This can show patterns of love, hostility, This can show patterns of love, hostility,

support, trust. support, trust. • Interviews with clients can show that words Interviews with clients can show that words

associated with distrust are extremely common associated with distrust are extremely common in one program but not another.in one program but not another.

• A simple word count, how often each word A simple word count, how often each word appears, may suggest important differences, appears, may suggest important differences, say, in how men and women describe marital say, in how men and women describe marital strengths or weaknesses.strengths or weaknesses.

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Quantitative Analysis

• Examples of quantitative analysisExamples of quantitative analysis• Imagine doing this on news coverage or Imagine doing this on news coverage or

editorials about a war that becomes editorials about a war that becomes unpopular. Terrorist vs. Insurgentsunpopular. Terrorist vs. Insurgents

• Violence in TV. How many people has a Violence in TV. How many people has a 5-year old seen being murdered?5-year old seen being murdered?

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Qualitative Coding• Codes and Categories can beCodes and Categories can be

• Deductive from an a priori list—Watch Deductive from an a priori list—Watch discussion and count positive and negative discussion and count positive and negative statements about a partnerstatements about a partner

• Inductive from understanding you get reading a Inductive from understanding you get reading a transcript—Discover that most welfare mothers transcript—Discover that most welfare mothers express desire for being independent. Call this express desire for being independent. Call this “Grounded Research.” “Grounded Research.”

• Both—Usually the caseBoth—Usually the case

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Coding: What Counts?• Words—easilly quantifiedWords—easilly quantified• Themes—qualitative interpretationsThemes—qualitative interpretations• Character reference—How often is partners name used? Character reference—How often is partners name used?

How often is a person mentioned?How often is a person mentioned?• Latent Concepts—A variety of words, phrases, nonverbal Latent Concepts—A variety of words, phrases, nonverbal

behaviors could fall under the concept of expressions of behaviors could fall under the concept of expressions of lovelove

• Semantics. Meanings of affect, strength. Video much Semantics. Meanings of affect, strength. Video much better than transcription. Statement of “I love school” may better than transcription. Statement of “I love school” may be sarcastic, deeply emotional, etc.be sarcastic, deeply emotional, etc.

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Coding: What Counts? Classes.• Common Classes—Common distinctions such as male vs. Common Classes—Common distinctions such as male vs.

female, demographics. female, demographics. • Special Classes—Special to your groupSpecial Classes—Special to your group

• Groups may have common distinctions you discover. Groups may have common distinctions you discover. Understanding of these is critical.Understanding of these is critical.

• Incarcerated women may have these for one another.Incarcerated women may have these for one another.• In-group vs. out-group distinctions. Think adolescent In-group vs. out-group distinctions. Think adolescent

females or males. females or males. • Theoretical Classes—You may identify different classes Theoretical Classes—You may identify different classes

based on goals, motivations, shared rituals—Valley girlsbased on goals, motivations, shared rituals—Valley girls

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Coding: How???• Ask consistent set of questions of data, but be Ask consistent set of questions of data, but be

ready to modify the question.ready to modify the question.• Study of cost-effectiveness resulted in repeated Study of cost-effectiveness resulted in repeated

reports of changes in attitudes and behavior.reports of changes in attitudes and behavior.• Look for unanticipated consequences.Look for unanticipated consequences.

• Animals for inmates Animals for inmates less recividism? less recividism?• May find it leads to less guard turnover May find it leads to less guard turnover

because guards consistently report fewer because guards consistently report fewer problems.problems.

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Coding: How???

• Minutely analyze data.Minutely analyze data.• Think of funnel like literature review.Think of funnel like literature review.• Start trying to code practically Start trying to code practically

everything.everything.• Drop/combine codes the second, third, Drop/combine codes the second, third,

etc. reading.etc. reading.• Come back for fresh start after you’ve Come back for fresh start after you’ve

generated “final” codes.generated “final” codes.

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Coding: How???

• Write theoretical notesWrite theoretical notes• These are inductive ideas. These are inductive ideas. • Consistent self serving comments by Consistent self serving comments by

clients may lead you to think there is a clients may lead you to think there is a problem of trust. A program may be problem of trust. A program may be failing because clients do not trust this failing because clients do not trust this even though this is never explicit.even though this is never explicit.

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Coding: How???

• Don’t assume importance of common categories Don’t assume importance of common categories (sex, race). Look for new categories.(sex, race). Look for new categories.

• Common categories are confounded with Common categories are confounded with stereotypes.stereotypes.

• Studying whites who work with African Studying whites who work with African Americans may lead you to feel position in Americans may lead you to feel position in hierarch is key category. African American hierarch is key category. African American supervisors may change attitudes of Whites much supervisors may change attitudes of Whites much more than African American subordinates. more than African American subordinates.

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Forms of Reporting

• Most reports are textual accounts.Most reports are textual accounts.• These are greatly strengthened with These are greatly strengthened with

verbatim reports of the participants that let verbatim reports of the participants that let them speak in their own voice.them speak in their own voice.

• Pictures and video clips, for example, as Pictures and video clips, for example, as part of a web report are a great strength.part of a web report are a great strength.

• Innovative reporting could be a play, such Innovative reporting could be a play, such as the “Vagina Monologue”as the “Vagina Monologue”

Documents

Analyzing Qualitative Data