Analysing qualitative data

Learning outcomes
Apply an appropriate process to analyse your
qualitative data
Identify and categorise themes and categories
emerging from the data
Group different items or units of data and
examine potential relationships between them
Evaluate alternative explanations and formulate
credible and plausible conclusions
Evaluate computer-assisted qualitative data
analysis software in relation to your project
objectives
Evaluate the trustworthiness of your data-
gathering and analysis process
The qualitative data analysis process
in practice
The qualitative data analysis process
 Categorising and coding data
Descriptive/manifest codes
First-level codes: identify them for further
analysis later
Case codes
organisation codes
sector codes
codes for individuals
Analytical codes
Second-level codes
Themes, topics, concepts, ideas
Axial/relationship codes
To show relationships or connections within or
between categories or sub-categories
The qualitative data analysis journey
1) Clarify the research questions and the
data sources that are required to
answer them
2) Make use of an appropriate sampling
strategy
3) Decide on the initial categories for the
analysis
4) Pilot the analysis process
5) Carry out the analysis
Factors in drawing conclusions from
qualitative data

Counting Relationships
Patterning Causal networks
Clustering Relationship to
Factoring theory
Evaluating explanations and formulating
conclusions