Description
Provide a complete description of the phenomenon of interest.
Description includes; the context of the action, the intentions of the actor, and the process in which the action is embedded.
A 'thick' description provides rich data.
Coding and Connection Themes
Coding of the data = organizing into categories.
The purpose is to provide tools for analysis
Without categorization, it isn't possible to know what is analysed and know possible to compare the data.
The Classification Process
- Consists of reading, and rereading the field notes in an interactive way.
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The researches must be able to identify bits of data and create categories , by asking questions like; who? What? When? Where? Why?
- The researcher can create graphical representations of the categories and their connections, and supply case examples.
- This approach can open different routes to examine the data and make it easier to see how the categories and subcategories may be related by themes.
- The researcher should write a summary of the analysis so that independent readers can follow how and why the connections are reached
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The notes about notes are called memos.
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When the data have been classified into themes, the researcher can look for higher-order themes (main themes) and subthemes.
- Interpretation of the data is based on comparison of the collected data, and sometimes the researcher will include evidence from other sources (interview data, or information on the social context).
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It's important to think critically and not only look for data that support the interpretation.
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The researcher should also research for evidence that could contradict the interpretation.
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Critical thinking means looking for alternative explanations.
Producing an Account
The end product is a written account based on all the elements of the analysis.
The researcher produces a coherent explanation and an overall theoretical framework for understanding the phenomenon under investigation.
The theoretical framework is 'grounded' - based on thee categories identified during the observation.
However, it may also be that researchers use theoretical triangulation - including alternative theories to explain the phenomenon.
The researcher continuously consults the data to see if they support the interpretation. He or she may also consult the participants, to ask them whether they can support the interpretation.
May also ask other researchers to take a critical look at the account and the data to see whether they can support them.
The important thing is that the researcher makes it possible for the reader to track and verify how the conclusion is reached.
These are issues of generalization from an observational study. According to some researchers, it is possible to make inferential and theoretical generalizations.