Analyzing Qualitative Research Data
Impetus Research has been conducting qualitative data collection and analysis in its bid to be one of the topmost data collection companies in India. It undertakes qualitative data analysis, identifies emerging industry trends and also improves software and other working methods to meet the needs-present and future-of qualitative researchers. Here’s a look at its qualitative research methodology in brief.
The basic characteristics of research of qualitative research methods are mentioned below:-
1) They are concerned with feelings, experiences and opinions.
2) They describe naturally occurring social phenomena. A situation is not manipulated, just understood and described.
3) Rather than observing a set of variables, understanding is sought through a holistic approach and perspective.
4) This type of research data propagates the inductive approach of the development theory i.e. developing concepts and theories used to understand the social world, rather than making deductions out of existing theories as in the case of quantitative research.
5) Direct encounters are used to collect qualitative data- such as observations, interviews, etc. which makes it very time consuming.
Research of a qualitative nature aims to understand the big picture i.e. describing phenomenon using data and understanding what it means. All data is labelled and coded so that difference and similarities are recognized. Even the responses that are gleaned through unstructured qualitative interviews can be coded, counted and analyzed through various means.
However, there is no system of pre-coding that a qualitative researcher can use as a method to identify and label coding data. This is bespoke and developed for each research separately and labelled as the activity of content analysis. When qualitative data has been collected through interviews, focus groups, documentary analysis and observation, content analysis can be performed.
Content analysis is the procedure that is described as the categorization of behavioural and verbal data that is used for the purposes of summarisation, classification and tabulation. This analysis can be done on two levels:-
1) The basic manifested level which includes a descriptive account of the data e.g. what exactly was said in an interview.
2) The latent analysis level which is a method of interpretation of the response and what might have been inferred or implied through it.
Presentation of Qualitative Research
When the presentation of qualitative data is being planned, it is worthwhile to consider that the data is subjective, descriptive, interpretative, holistic and copious in amount. The research presentation should be based around the emerging themes and categories. Themes and categories have the option of being presented as section and relevant sub-sections.
Quotes, when used to demonstrate or inform and support findings, should be verified and used from reliable sources only. A new method of presenting qualitative data is in a quantitative form (e.g. 8 out of 10 schools).
For more information regarding the methods used by Impetus Research for qualitative data collection and analysis that have helped it reach its goal of being one of the foremost data collection companies in India, visit http://www.impetus-research.com. If you think there is some other method which will benefit the research methodology employed by us, do let us know in the comments section below.
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