Using secondary qualitative data in interdisciplinary contexts Libby Bishop ESDS Qualidata, University of Essex Working Across Boundaries: 2 nd NCRM Summer School University of Southampton 13 September 2006
Mar 28, 2015
Using secondary qualitative data
in interdisciplinary contexts
Libby BishopESDS Qualidata, University of Essex
Working Across Boundaries: 2nd NCRM Summer SchoolUniversity of Southampton
13 September 2006
Qualitative data collections
• Data from Economic and Social Research Council awards
• Data from ‘classic’ social science studies
• Other funders and sources
Types of qualitative data
• Diverse data types: in-depth interviews; semi-structured interviews; focus groups; oral histories; mixed methods data; open-ended survey questions; case notes/records of meetings; diaries/research diaries
• Some multimedia: audio, video, photos
• Formats: digital, paper, analogue audio-visual
Supporting Documentation• Examples
– Funding application– Description of methodology– Communication with informants on confidentiality– Coding schemes / themes– Technical details of equipment – Interview schedules– End of award report– Documentation from CAQDAS software packages, e.g.,
analytical memos– Bibliographies, resulting publications
• Anything that adds insight or aids understanding and secondary usage
Uses of existing qualitative data for secondary analysis
• Case for today: research questions already specified
• Helpful to think of comparison with literature review– Lit review covers findings, with
breadth– “Data review” covers data, in
depth
Strategies for SA: qualitative data
• Content knowledge: search catalogue to locate and download relevant studies– Thematic guides
• Methods knowledge: explore supporting documentation– User guides for each study
• Web searching and browsing– Qualidata Online
Methods knowledge: exploiting user guides
• Search on health+youth produces:
• SN 5057: “Critical incidents and health-related behaviour of children”
• Young peoples’ perceptions of self and health behaviours
• Mixed methods
Exploring qualitative data
• ESDS Qualidata sitehttp://www.esds.ac.uk/qualidata/
• UK Data Archive Cataloguehttp://www.esds.ac.uk/search/
searchStart.asp