Data Analysis and Mixed Methods

Qualitative Data Analysis and
Interpretation
• Data analysis
– An attempt by the researcher to summarize
collected data.
• Data Interpretation
– Attempt to find meaning
• How do these differ by research tradition?

– Quantitative
– Qualitative
Data Analysis During Collection
• Analysis not left until the end
• To avoid collecting data that are not important
the researcher must ask:
– How am I going to make sense of this data?
• As they collect data the researcher must ask
– Why do the participants act as they do?
– What does this focus mean?
– What else do I want to know?
– What new ideas have emerged?
– Is this new information?
Data Analysis After Collection
• One way is to follow three iterative steps
1. Become familiar with the data through
1. Reading
2. Memoing
2. Exam the data in depth to provide detailed
descriptions of the setting, participants, and
activities.
3. Categorizing and coding pieces of data and
grouping them into themes.
Data Analysis After Collection
Summarizing
• “the first time you sit down with your data is the
only time you come to that particular set fresh”-
Kratowohl.
– Reading and memoing
• Read write memos about field notes.
– Describing
• Develop comprehensive descriptions of setting, participants,
etc.
– Classifying
• Breaking data into analytic units.
• Categories
• Themes
Data Analysis Strategies
• Identifying themes
– Begin with big picture and list “themes” that
emerge.
• Events that keep repeating themselves
• Coding qualitative data
– Reduce data to a manageable form
– Often done by writing notes on note cards and
sorting into themes.
• Predetermined categories vs. emerging categories
How to make coding manageable
• Make photocopies of original data
– Why?
• Read through all of the data.
– Attach working labels to blocks of text
• Cut and paste blocks of text onto index cards.
• Group cards that have similar labels together
• Revisit piles of cards to see if clusters still hold
together.
Other Strategies
• Concept Mapping
– Analyzing Antecedents and Consequences
– Displaying Findings
– Stating what’s missing
Illness
Social Skills
Absenteeism
School Safety
Data Interpretation
• Answer these four questions
– What is important in the data?
– Why is it important?
– What can be learned from it?
– So what?
• Remember
– Interpretation depends on the perspective of
the researcher.
• Why?
Interpretation
• One technique for data interpretation
(Wolcott)
– Extend the analysis by raising questions
– Connect findings to personal experiences
– Seek the advice of “critical” friends.
– Contextualize findings in the research
• Converging evidence?
– Turn to theory
Ensuring Credibility
• Are the data based on one’s own observation, or
is it hearsay?
• Is there corroboration by other’s of the
observation?
• In what circumstances was an observation made
or reported?
• How reliable are those providing the data?
• What motivations might have influenced a
participant’s report?
• What biases might have influenced how an
observation was made or reported?
Mixed Methods?
• A combination of quantitative and
qualitative techniques.
– Under what circumstances might mixed
methods work?
– Under what circumstances might mixed
methods not work?
• Think epistemological perspectives.
Quantitative vs. Qualitative
Definition and Purpose
• Mixed methods research
– A style of research that uses procedures for
conducting research that are typically applied in both
quantitative and qualitative studies
– The purpose of these designs is to build upon the
synergy and strength that exists between quantitative
and qualitative methods in order to more fully
understand a given phenomenon than is possible
using either quantitative or qualitative methods alone
Definition and Purpose
• Mixed methods research
– The research problem itself determines the
choice of a design
– Examples:
• Using surveys to identify specific groups of
students and conducting focus groups with them to
understand their views
• A series of interviews are conducted to ascertain
the critical issues bothering students, and a survey
of the student body is conducted using these
issues as variables
Three Types of Designs
• Three characteristics that differentiate
types of mixed methods designs
– The priority given to either the quantitative or
qualitative data collection
– The sequence of collecting quantitative or
qualitative data
– The data analysis techniques used to either
combine the analysis of data or keep the two
types of data separate
• Three common designs
– QUAL-Quan Model
• The exploratory mixed methods design
• Qualitative data are collected first and are more
heavily weighted
– QUAN-Qual Model
• The explanatory mixed methods design
• Quantitative data are collected first and are more
heavily weighted
• Three common designs (continued)
– QUAN-QUAL Model
• The triangulation mixed methods design
• Quantitative and qualitative data are collected concurrently
and both are weighted equally
• Notation
– Abbreviations QUAN and QUAL are obvious
– Order and capitalization
• The first to be read or the capitalized abbreviation is the
dominant perspective and is weighted more heavily
• If both are capitalized, it means both are weighted equally
Ten Characteristics of Mixed
Methods Designs
• The title of the research includes terms that
suggest more than one method is being used
– Mixed methods
– Integrated
– Triangular
– Quantitative – qualitative
• Both quantitative and qualitative methods are
used in the study
Methods Designs
• The researcher describes the kinds of mixed
methods being used
• The data collection section indicates narrative,
numerical, or both types of data are being
collected
• The purpose statement or the research
questions indicate the types of methods being
used
• Questions are stated and described for both
quantitative and qualitative approaches
Methods Designs
• The researcher indicates the sequencing of
collecting qualitative and/or quantitative data
(i.e., QUAN-Qual, QUAL-Quan, or QUAN-QUAL)
• The researcher describes both quantitative and
qualitative data analysis strategies
• The writing is balanced in terms of quantitative
and qualitative approaches
Evaluating a Mixed Methods Design
• Eight questions
– Does the study use at least one quantitative and one
qualitative research strategy?
– Does the study include a rationale for using a mixed
methods design?
– Does the study include a classification of the type of
mixed methods design?
– Does the study describe the priority given to
quantitative and qualitative data collection and the
sequence of their use?
Evaluating a Mixed Methods Design
• Eight questions (continued)

– Was the study feasible given the amount of data to be
collected and concomitant issues of resources, time,
and expertise?
– Does the study include both quantitative and
qualitative research questions?
– Does the study clearly identify qualitative and
quantitative data collection techniques?
– Does the study use appropriate data analysis
techniques for the type of mixed methods design?

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Qualitative Data Analysis and

• How do these differ by research tradition?

• Eight questions (continued)

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