Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis

Introduction/Overview

This one day course is designed to equip participants with a clear understanding of the principles and practice of high quality, rigorous descriptive qualitative data analysis, with a focus on the ‘Framework’ approach to qualitative data management, developed at the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen). The course will be delivered through a mixture of taught sessions and practical exercises.

Course objectives

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

• be able to describe the key stages in the analytical process in qualitative research

• be able to describe and use the ‘Framework’ approach to data management

• be able to describe the key stages in the descriptive analytical process in qualitative research

• have gained experience of interpreting qualitative data

Topics

The course will cover:

• The key stages and objectives of the analytical process in qualitative research

• The qualitative analytical hierarchy

• Using ‘Framework’ for data management

• Developing the conceptual framework for analysis

• Descriptive analysis of qualitative data

Who will benefit

This course will be useful to you, if you:

• are a qualitative researcher who wants to learn new skills in qualitative data analysis or to broaden and refresh your existing skills

• are experienced in other aspects of qualitative research but are new to the analysis of qualitative data

• commission or manage qualitative research in central or local government, health or other applied policy sectors and need to understand the qualitative analysis process