Analyzing Qualitative Data: Words, Words, Words!

Analyzing Qualitative Data: Words, Words, Words!

The goal of this chapter is to provide an introduction to the process of qualitative analysis and to use step by step examples to provide an idea of how the process of qualitative analysis actually works. Crabtree and Miller, 1992, note that there are many different strategies for analysis, in fact, they suggest there are as many strategies as there are qualitative researchers. This chapter is intended to give the researcher a place to begin and to inspire a deeper dive into this rewarding form of data analysis. Stake, (1995, p. 71) writes that qualitative data analysis is “a matter of giving meaning to first impressions as well as to final compilations. Analysis essentially means taking something apart. We take our impressions, our observations, apart… we need to take the new impression apart, giving meaning to the parts”. While qualitative data analysis can be time consuming, the rewards that come from immersion in the data far outweigh the time spent doing so.