Part II: Generating Data

Introduction

This text follows Jennifer Mason (1996) in making a distinction between ‘collecting’ and ‘generating’ qualitative data. The idea of ‘generating’ data takes account of the active role played by the observer, interviewer or focus group moderator in producing data through interacting with respondents. The discussion will highlight the significance of reflexivity – i.e. the impact which the researcher has on the data elicited and the impact of the research process on the researcher.

The unfortunate tendency, in some quarters, to present qualitative research as the application of a set of techniques has taken de-mystification a step too far. This text will attempt to reassert the skill involved in negotiating the qualitative research encounter in order to elicit the sort of data which is ...