Analysis in Qualitative Research – Hennie Boeije
1. Introduction to qualitative research
Preparatory thoughts
For scientific research the questions asked need to be related to theory in some way, and the
answers need to be found by the use of systematic methods that must be adequately documented.
The choice to use qualitative research methods has implications for your way of working, for the
research design, the use of theory, the sample, the data collection methods, the data analysis and
the final publication.
Fundemental research if your aim is predominantly to gain knowledge.
Applied research if your aim is predominantly aimed at the use of knowledge to change or
improve situations.
Considering quantitative or qualitative research
Theory is viewed as an attempt to describe, understand and explain a certain social phenomenon.
The use of social theory is often seen as the main difference between quantitative and qualitative
research.
- Quantitative research a deductive process is employed, which means that theory is the
starting point for formulating hypotheses that will be tested in researach. The outcome of this
process, of course, says something about the theory that was tested
- Qualitative research inductive thinking is paramount, which means that a social phenomenon
is explored in order to find empirical patterns that can function as the beginning of a theory.
Diversity in qualitative research
Qualitative researchers generally agree upon the assumptions attached to constructivism and
interpretivism, but there are many nuances, traditions and specifitcs which cause the qualitative
research practice to be very diverse.
Defining and elineating qualitative reserach in this book
The purpose of qualitative research is to describe and understand social pehnomena in terms of the
meaning people bring to them. The research questions are studied through flexible methods
enabling contact with people involved to an extent that is necessary to grasp what is going on in the
field. The methods produce rich, descriptive data that need to be interpreted through the
identification and coding of themes and categories leading to findings that can contribute to
theoretical knowledge and practical use.
Looking for meaning
Discover the meaning that people award to their social worlds and to understand the meaning of
their social behaviour.
Using flexible methods that enable contact with participants
The participant’s perspective is not (entirely) known before the inquiry.
Field work, as a consequence, requires a constant redefinition of what is problematic adn needs a
logic and process of inquiry that is flexible and open-ended. This flexible approach holds true for the
analysis as well. As far as an inductive approach is concerned, it is generally unknown beforehand
what data will be generated and what the frame of analysis will look like. Improvisation, creativity
and flexibility must be allowed.
, Providing qualitative findings
When researchers guide readers through a different cultural world, they have to provide the
readers with a description of daily life. Not just a description but a detailed account of what the
setting looks like, what keeps people busy and what they take for granted.
2. Research design
Planning a research project
Thorough preperation, resulting in a research plan or project proposal, prevents distraction from the
actual topic. A research plan also promotes the (continual) fit bewteen the parts of the research. Also
important for third parties (instructors, ethical committees, supervisors etc.).
A proposal needs to demonstrate what the research entails. What is being reserached? Why is this
subject examined? How will this be done? Where will the study take place?
An essential part of your analytic plan in the research propposal is to indicate to reviewers that data
collection and data analysis alternate in qualitative research. This is a vital part of the qualitative
research procedure, and one of the main reasons that not all parts of the research can be planned in
advance.
Research proposals are judget not only on the use of rigorous techniques and methods for gathering
data and carful analysis, but also on the credibility of the researcher, which includes training,
experience, track record, status and presentation of self.
Literature review
Reviewing literature means that the researcher has taken notice of the accumulated knowledge
gleaned from books and articles on a certain topic.
Theory is not the same as literature – theory refers to coherent frameworks that try to describe,
understand and explain aspects of social life.
An argument for reading other people’s research is that scientific knowledge has to accumulate.
It was acknowledged that the research problem and the research questions are generated at the
start of the study and based on available but limited knowledge. It is permitted to adjust he research
question during the research if there are good arguments to do so. Researchers try to put the
knowledge they extracted from the literature aside in order to appraoch their field work with an
open mind.
Literature search important function in the planning and execution of research
- Literature helps you to come up with a research topic.
- Identify a gap in the existing knowledge and delinate your own research .
- The connection of your research to recent theoretical ideas and debates makes it easier to
identify the scientific area that you want to contribute to.
- Help you generate your measuring instruments (inspiration).
- Indicates how you will approach the research analytically. It is not in the nature of qualitative
research to sue a fixed coding shceme that constricts date collection and pre-sorts data.
Literature could provide a ‘skeletal framework’.
