Qualitative research accrues in la...

Qualitative research accrues in large amounts of contextually laden, subjective, and richly detailed data. This data usually originates from interview transcripts or observation notes and must be pared down to set forth major themes or categories that describe the phenomenon being studied. Data reduction facilitates communicating findings simply and efficiently. This paring and sieving of data ofttimes is termed thematic analysis.

BACKGROUND

All qualitative research studies are unique and thus demand unique strategies for analysis. Qualitative data analysis consists of identifying, coding, and categorizing patterns ground in the data. The clarity and applicability of the findings, however, hang on the analytic intellect of the researcher. This buttress on the human factor can be the greatest nerve or the greatest weakness of a qualitative research cogitation It is incumbent on the researcher to report and document his or her analytic processe and deeds fully and truthfully so others may evaluate the credibility of the researcher and his or her findings. (1)

THEMATIC ANALYSIS

Thematic analysis is a way of seeing, as well as a proces for coding qualitative information. (2) An analogy of thematic analysis is sorting a case of buttons. One can determine different strategies or categories to describe the buttons. They could be assign places toed according to size, number of retreats color, or type. In the same manner, the researcher must make many decisions about the proces of identifying themes, and he or she must inform others wherefore specific categories were chosen.

Another decision the researcher must make when analyzing data is whether to analyze the interview data obtained from each participant independently or whether to use cross-case analysis. (3) The researcher also must decide whether to manually create a digest to label the findings or whether to use software specifically designed for qualitative data management.

DATA CODING

single scholar emphasizes the necessity of developing a digest to label research findings during data analysis. He insinuates five elements to a well adapted code, including

* labels;

* definitions of what each theme interests (ie, the characteristics or issues constituting each theme);

* descriptions of by what mode to know when each theme arises (ie, how to "flag" themes);

* descriptions of any qualifications or exclusions to identifying themes; and

* examples, as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but positive and negative, to eliminate possible confusion when looking for themes. (4)

Although an qualitative researchers may find this scholar's suggestions too objectifying and possibly rigid, his strategies support the premise that there are many reliable [i]modus operandi[/i]s for analyzing data. (5) He defines reliability as a consistency of observing, labeling, or interpreting. His strategies facilitate the documentation of an audit trail, which supports the credibility of a study

QUALITATIVE SOFTWARE

Many representations of software programs can assist the researcher with data coding, management, and analysis; however, it is important to remember that the researcher remains responsible for the interpretive proces of analysis. Various articles and Internet resources provide details and computer specifications for qualitative data management software programs (Table 1) (6) These resources also provide information about sumptuousness and how to obtain specific software programs.

publicly there are two types of qualitative data management software programs available. united is a coding and retrieval program that facilitates a more web coding schema than the researcher may be able to perform manually. It allows the researcher to retrieve thesis segments throughout the data plant The second is a theory-generating program that facilitates exploring relationships between codfished categories in one file and theoretical explanations in another file.

When exploring software options, it is important to determine the methodological origins of each program. Software has been disentangleed specifically for ethnography, phenomenology, and fielded theory and may reflect assumptions of these perspectives. It also is important to remember that learning to what degree to use a software program many times takes time and money. In addition, identifying a readily available mentor who is familiar with the software is important for troubleshooting during data note and manipulation. When writing a timetable or grant for a research investigation the cost of purchasing and learning in what manner to use the software must be included in the study's budget

REPORTING THE FINDINGS

After the categories or themes have been codfished the researcher must decide by what mode to report the findings. To do this, united researcher suggests relating information about chronology, explanation events, various settings, people, and processe or issues related to the meditation (7) Other researchers suggest using metaphors to communicate themes. (8) Using a schematic drawing or developing a conceptual framework is another strategy that may be used to facilitate reporting the findings.