Part IV: Analyzing and Presenting Qualitative Research

Introduction

Throughout this section of the book, the process of qualitative data analysis is presented as one that involves producing ‘findings’ rather than ‘results’. This formulation emphasizes the agency of the researcher and avoids the reification of data (as an independent entity) which is apparent in some approaches. A further aspect of the agency of the researcher in generating data is that this affords an opportunity to begin to address the process of analysis. It has been mentioned earlier that the qualitative research process is iterative rather than linear and it is argued that analysis – or, at least, analytic thinking – begins as soon as the first interview or focus group discussion has been held. The attentive observer, interviewer ...