Secondary Analysis of Qualitative Data

2331 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The importance of data analysis in qualitative research

This essay aims to examine the practice of secondary analysis on qualitative data in terms of barriers to overcome and advantages of its practice. Over the last decades, archives of qualitative data have become widely accessible to research-es and there has been a smaller revolution in the practice of secondary analysis on such data. (Seale, 2004) There are both practical and methodological ad-vantages for researchers to use data that has been collected by others in order to pursue new research. However, this approach is not unproblematic. One of the most prominent features of qualitative research is its emphasis on contextual understanding and data- generating process between the researcher and partici-pants, which is to some extent lost when secondary analysis is pursued. The con-textual problem translates into methodological and ethical issues, which needs to be acknowledged and resolved. Furthermore, there are practical barriers, which surrounds the same pillars of context, ethics and methodology. Initially, I will define key concepts of qualitative research and secondary analysis on qualitative data. Second, I will identify certain limitations and barriers to pur-sue secondary analysis in the order of contextual information barriers, methodo-logical barriers and ethical issues. Third, I will briefly discuss how such barriers can be overcome and why researchers should pursue secondary analysis. Doing so, I will look at using research in the pilot stage, economic reasons and method-ological advancements. Qualitative research involves the methods of case- studies, in- depth interviews, text/discourse analysis and historical analysis, focusing on a few cases with the primary purpose of gain in- depth understanding of the resea... ... middle of paper ... ...tive issues’ Sociological Research Online 15:1 Heaton, J. (2008) ’Secondary analysis of Qualitative Data: An Overwiev’ Historical Social Research 33:3 pp. 33-45 Hinds, P.,Vogel, R., and Clarke-Steffen, L. (1997) ’The possibilities and pitfalls of doing secondary analysis of a qualitative data set’ Qualitative Health Research 7:3 pp. 408-424 Irwin, S and Winterton, M (2011) ‘Debates in Qualitative Secondary Analysis: Critical Reflections’ ESRC: A Timescapes Working Paper No. 4 Mason, J. (2007) ’Re-using” qualitative data: on the merits of an investigative epistemology’ Sociological Research Online 12:3 Mauthner, N.S., Parry, O. and Backett-Milburn, K. (1998) ’The data are out there, or are they? Implications for archiving and revisiting qualitative data’ Sociology 32:4 pp. 733 – 745 Moore, N. (2007) ’(Re)Using qualitative data?’ Sociological Research Online 12:3

Show More
Related

  • The Pros and Cons of Participant Observation or Surveys as a Research Method

    1933 Words  | 4 Pages

    Vidich J A., 1955. Participant Observation and the Collection and interpretation of Data. American Journal of Sociology.Vol.60, No.4, pp. 354-360

    Read More

  • Thematic Analysis Essay

    1280 Words  | 3 Pages

    The author could have employed other methods of qualitative research such as, narrative analysis, grounded theory, discourse analysis, data display and analysis, content analysis and quantifying qualitative data and computer assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAPDAS) (Saunders et al., 2016). Nevertheless, these approaches seem cumbersome sometimes and take a long time to complete (Willig, 1999; Braun and Clarke, 2006 and Smith and Bekker,

    Read More

  • Research Methodology: Qualitative Methods of Data Collection

    1727 Words  | 4 Pages

    Qualitative research is an approach that attempts to situate an activity that locates the observer in the world by providing the study to occur in their natural setting and by attempting to make sense of, or interpret information (Denzin and Lincoln, 2005). A characteristic of qualitative research is to use a variety of empirical materials such as personal experience, interviews, and questionnaires. It is imperative to understand the task at hand and how to fully carry out the study when using a qualitative research approach in order to find out the information needed. One view of qualitative research is it involves examining individual’s experiences and documenting those experiences in detail (Jones, 2011). By documenting these observations the researcher is ensuring validity in his or her data and giving the correct creditability to those who participated in the study.

    Read More

  • Is Ethnography a Suitable method for Research

    2333 Words  | 5 Pages

    Wainwright, D. (1997) Can Sociological Research Be Quantitative, Critical and Valid?, The Quantitative Report, Vol. 3, No.2, July 1997, Nova South Eastern University, School of Social Systematic Studies, on line: http://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR3-2/wai.html.

    Read More

  • Essay On Quantitative Methods

    1237 Words  | 3 Pages

    Primary source data collection relies on structured interviews and questionnaires, which many argue do not offer enough fluidity to relate to everyday lives and therefore are not valid research tools (Bryman 2001, p.77). Critics also continue to associate positivism and quantitative methods failing to see that quantitative researchers do not apply the scientific method to all data and can account for influencing variables (Bryman 2001, p.77; Matthews and Ross 2010, p.29). Quantitative methods in the social sciences were highlighted by the positivist epistemology during the mid 20th century; however, Jones (2010) explains how the principles of positivist epistemology are not fully consistent with modern quantitative methods in the social sciences (Matthews and Ross 2010, p.27). Positivist research parallels that of the natural sciences, where data collection and hypothesis testing is conducted from information that can be observed and recorded by the senses (Matthews and Ross 2010, p.27). Because information can only be observed, positivists look for regularities and explain causation when one event regularly follows another, which is why many will criticize quantitative methods if they associate them with the positivist approach to research (Jones

    Read More

  • A Critical Appraisal of Qualitative Research

    1770 Words  | 4 Pages

    Described below is a critical appraisal of a qualitative article by Lisa Booth using the frame-work suggested by Ryan, Coughlan and Cronin 2007 to establish its believability, robustness, credibility and integrity (Ryan, Coughlan & Cronin, 2007).

    Read More

  • Annotated Bibliography On Organizational Behavior

    373 Words  | 1 Pages

    Auerbach, C. and Silverstein, L. B. 2003. Qualitative data: an introduction to coding and analysis. NYU press.

    Read More

  • Thematic Data Analysis Essay

    2137 Words  | 5 Pages

    The thematic analysis is an often used method in qualitative research, according to Braun and Clarke (2006) it helps, ‘identifying, analysing and reporting patterns (themes) within data. It minimally organises and describes your data set in (rich) detail. However, frequently it goes further than this, and interprets various aspects of the research topic.’, (Braun and Clarke, 2006:79). Thematic analysis allows a theoretically flexible approach to evaluate qualitative data. Furthermore, according to Braun and Clarke (2006) thematic analysis can be applied to situations, as for our case it helps us analyse ‘the way in which events, realities, meanings, experiences and so on are the effect of a range of discourses operating within society’ (Braun and Clarke, 2006:81).

    Read More

  • Indoor Play Vs. Outdoor Play for Children

    988 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ulin,R.P., Robinson,E.T.,Tolle,E.E. (2005) Qualitative Methods in Public Health: A Field Guide for Applied Research. San Francisco: Family health international. in Humanities a

    Read More

  • American Girl And The Brand Gestalt : Closing The Loop On Sociocultural Branding Research

    1570 Words  | 4 Pages

    focused on the key qualitative research methods. For each article review, a brief description, guided by Myers (2013), and a critique, guided Pratt (2009), is provided. A summary of the five articles identifying the research method, data collection technique, data analysis approach and critique is provided in Table 1. The narrative review of each article coupled with figures and tables to organize and visualize thoughts (Pratt, 2009) follows the summary table.

    Read More

  • Strengths and Weakness of The Qualitative Research Method

    2841 Words  | 6 Pages

    Liamputtong, P. & Ezzy, D., 2005, Qualitative research methods, 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, South Melbourne, Victoria, pp. 12-31.

    Read More

  • Parent Disengagement Case Study

    1197 Words  | 3 Pages

    Do to the nature of the study four types of data, qualitative inquiry frameworks were considered; Ethnography, Grounded Theory, Realism and System Theory (Patton, 2015);

    Read More

  • What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Survey Research

    867 Words  | 2 Pages

    Qualitative research was designed as a way to be directly connected with the subjects researched. Participant researchers may choose to merely observe and collect data or to be an active participant. Covert participation has the advantage of reducing the “reactive effects” of the social setting or group (Bachman & Schutt, 2012). Most researchers who use the participation method of research will often strike a balance between participation and observation. Through participation, an observer may gain the trust of the research subjects which can provide more fruitful results. Some research may however be unethical or a violation of law. A good researcher should use prudence beforehand when crafting their research design.

    Read More

  • Criticistics Of Satire In Literature

    1852 Words  | 4 Pages

    Secondary research is a method of extracting information from other people’s studies, which have been done prior to the current process of a person’s research. The sources can be taken from books, journals, websites, reports, etc. The information taken must be analyzed and interpreted properly in order to associate the ideas and utilize the data to support the current research’s objectives and purposes. It can be used as a comparison and indicates inadequacy and gaps in conducting the current research.

    Read More

  • Research Proposal: Exploring the Causes of Teenage Pregnancy in the UK

    2752 Words  | 6 Pages

    Stejskal, S.M. (2010) Quatiative and Qualitative Research Methods are not and should not be Mutually Exclusive, Grinn Verlag.

    Read More

More about Secondary Analysis of Qualitative Data

Open Document