Working with Qualitative Data

Recounting a Collective Story from your Woksape Oyate

Project

Nancy M. Lucero, Ph.D., LCSWnlucero@du.edu

4-Step Qualitative Inquiry Process

1. Collect data (interviews, observations, documents, surveys)

2. Notice patterns and themes in what you have collected

4-Step Qualitative Inquiry Process

3. Consider the meanings and importance of the patterns and themes

4. Recount the story held in the collective data

Qualitative Inquiry Process

Recount the collective

story

Notice patterns and

themes

Consider the meaning of patterns and themes

Collect data

The Qualitative Inquiry Process

Collecting Qualitative Data Interviews, surveys, focus groups

Documents (reports, letters, e-mails, committee minutes)

Notes of observations (meetings, events, classes, and other gatherings)

Pictures, video, songs and lyrics, other multimedia

Noticing Patterns and Themes

Read through all data to get a general sense of the whole

Begin to “notice things”—what stands out?

Highlight and name these things (“coding”)

Sort and group what you have named

Considering the Meaning Think and reflect on the relationship of

the themes to such areas as:

• your WO project goals, objectives, and intended outcomes

• changes in institutional capacity to accomplish its mission

• how participants’ are affected by involvement in project activities (as related to institutional capacity)

Considering the Meaning Determine ways that the patterns and

themes can create a deeper understanding of the impact of your WO project

Decide what you want to share and how you want to recount the story

Consider return on the funder’s investment and potential to influence future donations

Exercise: Working with Qualitative Data

Identifying patterns and themes in the stories of three TCU students

Describing or defining the themes

Considering the audience and the story that needs to be told

Have Fun! Enjoy sharing the story!

Mv do!