Analysis Making sense of the data Analysis Analysis

Analysis Making sense of the data

Analysis

Analysis l You must sort your codes into some order or into groups. l l l Hierarchical, group with subgroups Arrange into clusters of related codes Such arrangements help researchers “dimensionalize, ” or recognize the various alternatives for or dimensions of similar thoughts or behaviors l E. g. , thoughts about how to look masculine: l l l Short hair Plain shoes Shirt with collar

l Flat coding—nonhierarchical list of codes (no subcodes) l l Voice is funny Sings poorly Whiney Tree coding—hierarchical arrangement of codes l Things that denote femininity l Body l l l Long hair high voice Clothes l l Girls’ shirt high heels

Analysis l Relationships between codes become more apparent as codes are grouped l Themes should be explored l l Why do some codes co-occur? Why are some dimensions related to other codes while others are not? Are some codes linked to particular emotions? Exploration of themes is analysis. The discoveries should be written down.

Analysis As you analyze, new codes may be generated. This means that you should retrospectively recode the data that had already been coded. Source: http: //onlineqda. hud. ac. uk/Intro_QDA/how_what_to_code. php

Analysis As you group codes, you should keep memos to yourself. These eventually (with very heavy and serious editing) turn into your written text. l Information to include in the memo about a code: l l l Why you created the code or category or theme Some information defining the code Information that says what the code reveals about the phenomenon you are studying Why you changed a code Ideas about the phenomenon that are generated by your coding activities in general

Analysis l Data Displays l l l Data displays are an organized way of compressing information and assembling it in ways that help you draw conclusions Can be text, diagrams, charts, matrices They show systematic patterns and interrelationships of the “chunks of meaning” (codes) in the data Displaying will often reveal new connections and themes in the data beyond those already noticed Can display intra-case analysis and/or cross-case analysis

Analysis Select Types of Data Displays l Partially ordered displays—some but not too much internal order aiming to uncover and describe what is happening in the local setting no matter how messy or surprising l l l Context chart—a network, mapping in graphic form the interrelationships among the roles and groups that go to make up the context of individual behavior Checklist Matrix—format for analyzing field data on a major variable or general domain of interest Transcript as Poem—make a poem

Analysis Select Types of Data Displays l Time-ordered Displays—orders data by time and sequence, preserving the historical chronological flow and permitting a good look at what led to what and when l Event listing—a matrix that arranges a series of concrete event by chronological time periods, sorting them into several categories l l l Critical incident chart—limited representation of critical elements of a process Event state network—centers on general states linked to specific events Activity record—sequencing of routine events Decision modeling—steps in decision-making spelled out Time-ordered matrix—column arranged by time period in sequence so that you can see when particular phenomena occurred; the rows are what else you are studying

Analysis Select Types of Data Displays l Role-ordered Displays—Orders information according to people’s roles in a formal or informal setting. Role-ordered matrix—sorts data in its rows and columns that have been gathered from or about a certain set of “role occupants” l Role-by-Time Matrix—sorting role information over time l

Analysis Select Types of Data Displays l Conceptually ordered Displays—displays the concepts or variables. l l Conceptually clustered Matrix—rows and columns arranged to bring together items that belong together. A prior derivation or empirically driven. May be ordered by persons or themes or both. Folk Taxonomy—displaying concepts in network form Cognitive maps—displays the person’s representation of concepts about a particular domain, showing the relationships among them. Descriptive text is associated with it. Effects matrix—displays data on one or more outcomes, in as differentiated a form as the study requires. Focus on dependent variables.

Analysis Conclusion Drawing and Verification l As one creates and views displays, the salient components of meaning and activities become apparent. l l l In descriptive analysis, the researcher tries to represent the data (meanings, observations) to readers in such a way that they will “understand” what the researcher “sees” in the data. In causal analysis, the researcher tries to link concepts in the data together to explain observed meanings or phenomena, and to represent that in such a way that readers will “understand” what the researcher “sees. ” This stage relies very heavily on logical evaluation and systematic description

Analysis Conclusion Drawing and Verification l The researcher must describe what he or she sees in the data. l The researcher always refers back to the data displays and raw data as descriptions or causal statements are made. l l Systematic, organized, and good coding and notes will really pay off at this point, allowing efficient, accurate access to data Conclusions are made through the process of writing up (describing) what is in the data