Session 3 Analyzing qualitative data

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Session 3- Analyzing qualitative data
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Creating Themes

• Neuman (2003) offers a 5 part plan for creating
  themes in qualitative analysis
• Sorting and Classifying
• Open Coding
• Axial Coding
• Selective Coding
• Interpreting and Elaborating

3
Step 1

• 1) Sorting and Classifying
• Data are organized around research questions or
  interview questions
• Neuman, W.L. (2003). Social Work Research
  Methods Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.
  Boston Pearson Education.

4
Step 2

• 2) Open Coding
• First pass through recently collected data
• Researcher locates themes and assigns initial
  codes or labels in an attempt to condense mass
  data into categories
• Slowly reads data looking for critical terms, key
  events, or themes
• Observations are labeled
• Neuman, W.L. (2003). Social Work Research
  Methods Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.
  Boston Pearson Education.

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Step 2 (continued)

• 2) Open Coding
• Themes/labels are created based on
• Research Questions
• Literature Review
• Terms used by members in the social setting
• Open Coding concludes with the formation of
  definitions/qualifications for themes/categories
• Neuman, W.L. (2003). Social Work Research
  Methods Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.
  Boston Pearson Education.

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Step 3

• 3) Axial Coding
• Second pass through data
• Begins with a set of initial codes
• In the second pass, focus more on initial codes
  than on data
• Additional codes or new ideas may emerge
• New themes are created
• Neuman, W.L. (2003). Social Work Research
  Methods Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.
  Boston Pearson Education.

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Step 3 (continued)

• 3) Axial Coding
• Moving toward organizing themes and identifying
  axis of key concepts
• Ask about causes, consequences, conditions,
  interactions, and process, and look for
  categories or concepts that cluster together.
• Neuman, W.L. (2003). Social Work Research
  Methods Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.
  Boston Pearson Education.

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Step 3 (continued)

• 3) Axial CodingCritical Questions
• Can I divide existing concepts into sub
  dimensions or subcategories?
• Can I combine several closely related concepts
  into one or more general ones?
• Can I organize categories into sequence or by
  their physical location (where they occurred)?
• Neuman, W.L. (2003). Social Work Research
  Methods Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.
  Boston Pearson Education.

9
Step 4

• 4) Selective Coding
• Last pass through the data
• Scanning data and previous codes
• Look selectively for cases that illustrate themes
  
• Major themes and concepts guide the search
• Neuman, W.L. (2003). Social Work Research
  Methods Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.
  Boston Pearson Education.

10
Step 5

• 5) Interpreting and Elaborating
• Major themes and categories are related to the
  literature (existing knowledge base)
• Comparisons and contrasts are drawn
• Explanations are offered for the findings
• Concepts are organized and working theory
  (explanations) is formulated
• Neuman, W.L. (2003). Social Work Research
  Methods Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches.
  Boston Pearson Education.

11
Presenting Data

• Explain to the reader how the data will be
  presented
• Verbatim examples
• Narrative form
• Tables
• Case examples

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Writing Results Discussion

• Chapter IV
• Presentation of Themes and Data to Support
  Themes. (Open, Selective and Axial Coding
  Process.)
• Chapter V
• Elaboration and Interpretation (Step 5)

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Issues to Consider

• Will analysis process be conducted by one
  individual? (Strengths and Weaknesses)
• Will the analysis involve transcription of all
  data? (Strengths and Weaknesses)
• Have I provided enough information so that
  someone could replicate my process?
• Am I clear what I am going to do?