Qualitative Methods

Analyzing Qualitative Data

Qualitative researchers use three processes for validating interpretations.

First, is your data appropriate to your findings?

Your data needs to be conceptually and logically appropriate to your research questions, your choice of methods, and your analysis. So, this is the first check of your analysis—do you have the right kind of data, in sufficient quantity and quality, to make the claims you are suggesting?

Second, what is the goodness of fit of your analysis?

There are two general approaches to testing goodness of fit. Some researchers propose other, alternative interpretations and then re-searching the data to support or refute the new interpretation. Others, search their data for contradictory examples that might disprove your analysis. If a negative case is found, you need to rework your analysis to account for this theme as well.

Third, have you looked for external validation or other confirmation of your intrepretation?

Some researchers offer their interpretation back to the research subjects for feedback and confirmation. However, for many reasons and in many cases, member validation may not always be appropriate. Other researchers use “triangulation” of data to establish external validity. In triangulation, fieldnote data may be used to corroborate interview data, or other data sources can be used along with fieldnotes or interview transcripts to corroborate events or accounts. Another source of external validation is to have other sociologists read your materials and your analysis to evaluate the strength of your intrepretation.