Qualitative analysis can be defined as a way a researcher develops a deep understanding of a phenomenon by employing deep research. It is aligned using a particular methodology, and there has never been a single way to analyze qualitative data. In other words, it is a nonlinear and interactive process. The process is often presented in phases for deeper understanding. This paper will analyze and give a reflection of qualitative methods and analysis.
For a better understanding of the analysis, it is done in phases. The first phase is organizing the data to be analyzed. Collecting data is always done in bulky. During the various process of generating the data through interviews, information is recorded in a lengthy document (Lester et al., 2020). Multiple techniques are used, such as audio or video, and the files are stored in an orderly manner to avoid confusion. This is the primary stage and sets the foundation for analysis. Transcribing data is another phase for researchers doing the analysis. Data is allocated time, and analysts give time for the transcription of the available information. Although it is a cumbersome process, transcribers should work on their work to avoid loss of meaning.
Becoming familiar with the data is another phase of qualitative analysis. Researchers must be in a position to tell what they have done. If they do not understand their work, they might be unable to explain it later to the scholars. It may inspire other groups to research the same data further, thus ensuring more discoveries about a particular data are made. Another step is recording the data in documents such as memos that describe what it entails (Lester et al., 2020). They capture the dates, places and importance of the information. After that, coding is done, a short descriptive phrase is assigned to the researcher’s interest. The purpose of that is to reduce the size of the data and its complexity. Lastly, making the analytic process transparent is critical to ensure that the process of analyzing data is verifiable and transparent. Researchers are supposed to develop a detailed audit that outlines the connection between all stages of data analysis.
Core ethics in this work includes being transparent and presenting honest work. A better way of doing it is that the researchers use their primary data to avoid misinterpretation. They should also have a deeper understanding of the concepts they are passing on to ensure that scholars get the necessary assistance from them when required (Lester et al., 2020). Core social work is evident in the first stage of the research. In collecting data, there must be many individuals involved. In some instances, when using questionnaires to conduct the survey, many people must present their views before the researcher’s final compiling of the data. Social work is therefore essential in this case scenario and requires maximum cooperation from individuals.
In conclusion, qualitative analysis can be best learnt through a process known as thematic analysis. Dividing it into phases gives the researcher a good way of presenting ideas. There are many ways of interpreting data, but the thematic analysis is arguably the best due to inconsistencies that impact the final results. To have an excellent approach to this, a15-point checklist should be used for conducting the research to ensure the reliability of the final result.
Reference
Lester, J. N., Cho, Y., & Lochmiller, C. R. (2020). Learning to do qualitative data analysis: A starting point. Human Resource Development Review, 19(1), 94-106. Web.