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Library - Honours Research PathFinder: Unit 9: A guide to qualitative data collection and analysis

This module provides essential skills for your honours research project, covering research basics, AI tools, smart reading strategies and effective writing techniques to enhance your research experience.

What is qualitative research?

                                                                                         

Qualitative research focuses on understanding human experiences, behaviors, and social phenomena. It provides in-depth insights into the meanings people attach to their actions, environments, and interactions. 

📌Important Reminder

This guide is meant to provide a general overview of qualitative data collection and analysis methods. It is important to consult your supervisor for specific instructions and guidelines, as your research may have unique requirements or methodologies.

Common methods for data collection

🔹 Interviews
Interviews can be structured, semi-structured or unstructured. They allow researchers to ask open-ended questions, providing rich, detailed responses. Ethical considerations such as confidentiality and informed consent are important, as is accurate data recording (e.g., through audio recording or note-taking).

🔹 Focus Groups
A focus group involves a small group of participants discussing a specific topic, guided by a moderator. Group dynamics often lead to diverse perspectives and the role of the moderator is crucial in managing the conversation and ensuring everyone participates.

🔹 Observations
Observational research involves watching participants in their natural environment. It can be either a participant (the researcher is involved in the setting) or a non-participant (the researcher observes without involvement). Ethical considerations are key, particularly with informed consent.

🔹 Surveys/Questionnaires (Open-ended)
Open-ended questions in surveys allow participants to express their views in their own words, providing rich data. Designing clear and unbiased questions is essential for obtaining useful responses.

 

Useful Library Books

Basic qualitative data analysis techniques

After data collection, researchers need to analyze the data. Here are a few basic techniques:

🔹 Thematic Analysis
This method involves identifying, analyzing, and reporting patterns (themes) within the data. It helps to organize data into key concepts and interpret meaning.

🔹 Coding
Coding involves categorizing parts of data into meaningful units. This could include “open coding” (identifying initial themes), “axial coding” (connecting themes), and “selective coding” (narrowing down final themes).

🔹 Content Analysis
Content analysis is a systematic approach to analyzing text or media. It involves identifying specific patterns, keywords, or themes within the content.

Tools for data management and analysis

Several tools can assist with organizing and analyzing qualitative data:

  • 🔹 NVivo

  • 🔹 ATLAS.ti (The library manages access. Please email ds40@uj.ac.za for assistance).

Access to ATLAS.ti for Honours Students

                                                                                                       

The UJ Library manages access to ATLAS.ti. Requests for access for Honours students must be submitted by the lecturer of the relevant module.

The request should include a list of students requiring access.

  • If the research project is conducted in groups, the request must indicate group formations, specifying the student number of the designated group member who will be granted access on behalf of the group.
  • If all students are conducting individual research projects, the request should simply provide a list of students requiring access.

Please note that Honors students are encouraged to engage with ATLAS.ti separately from Master’s and PhD students due to the differing levels of study. Accordingly, their training and onboarding will be conducted separately.

For more information, please contact ds40@uj.ac.za or visit:

https://www.uj.ac.za/library/research-support/digital-scholarship-uj-library-4-0-ds4-0/