The lecture
chaired by Claire on the the 12th February was on the subject of Qualitative
Data Analysis, we discussed what qualitative data is, when are the best
circumstances to employ it, how to analyse, code, and extract
worthwhile information from it.
The topics
covered were of direct relevance to my research as I am conducting qualitative
data analysis on the open-ended questions, I gathered in my focus group and I
am currently in the process of reducing the data through analysis, selection
and abstraction. Coding the data into categories will be of assistance in the
process of extracting beneficial information from it. The notes provided are
proving useful in progressing from words to data analysis, whereupon “three
concurrent flows of activity should occur-data reduction, data display, and
verification (drawing conclusions)”, Miles & Huberman (1984)
We discussed
the 8 step approach for analysing qualitative research data and that is the
method I am currently using to analyse my focus group data.