Qualitative research is important because it generates data that can provide in depth insight into a question or topic. However in order to draw conclusions most of the researchers present quantify analysis. So is it possible to quantify the qualitative data? If yes how?
I would disagree. Of course, you can come to valid conclusions by qualitative analysis only. Your result, in this case, would be a hypothesis or a theory about the subject of research.
If you want to follow it up by quantitative analysis, then you will test the hypotheses / theories found by qualitative research like with any other conventional quantitative analysis.
You can also try to quantify qualitative data if you have a large corpus. For example, you could count the frequency with which certain categories, codes or dimensions you found in your qualitative analysis appear in the data.
I would disagree. Of course, you can come to valid conclusions by qualitative analysis only. Your result, in this case, would be a hypothesis or a theory about the subject of research.
If you want to follow it up by quantitative analysis, then you will test the hypotheses / theories found by qualitative research like with any other conventional quantitative analysis.
You can also try to quantify qualitative data if you have a large corpus. For example, you could count the frequency with which certain categories, codes or dimensions you found in your qualitative analysis appear in the data.
It definitely is possible to quantify qualitative data by counting things, but this will almost certainly eliminate the "in depth insight" that you correctly describe as a major strength of qualitative research.
If you do want to pursue in depth insights, then I recommend that you consider Thematic Analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006) as a basic approach.
Good answers from Marie and David. There is an old 'adage' that I often use to illustrate one of the main differences between quantitative and qualitative research and that is "one counts the number of sunsets and the other appreciates them". They are two different things and can't really be used interchangeably - unless you appreciate how many sunsets there are!! What you ask Minaketan is possible - but it often doesn't make a great deal of sense and would need a valid justification for it. Your conclusions are ideally based on 'what participants say - not how many times they say it'.
As others have mentioned, it is controversial to quantify qualitative data. However, there are cases when quantification can be helpful. For example, sequential exploratory designs when the intention is to develop a questionnaire/ items based on results of the qualitative phase. Noting the frequency, volume, and number of codes for themes can assist in developing questionnaire domains.
There are other pros and cons. Joseph A. Maxwell's paper can be useful to get understand some pros and cons. Article Using Numbers in Qualitative Research
The commonly used method for quantification of qualitative data would be content analysis.
In most cases, I think it is better to NOT attempt to quantify qualitative data. Instead, employ theme analysis, grounded method, or other established qualitative analysis methods to discover rich information about the experiences and perceptions of the people you have interviewed.
The following papers my further help:
- Chivanga, S. Y. (2016) Qualitative Research Methodology and Numbers, Journal of Social Sciences, 47, 2, pp. 119-122.
- Neale, J., Miller, P. and West, R. (2014) Editorial: Reporting quantitative information in qualitative research: guidance for authors and reviewers, Addiction, 109, 2, pp. 175-176.
- Sandelowski, M. (2001) Real qualitative researchers do not count: the use of numbers in qualitative research, Research in nursing and health, 24, 3, pp. 230-240.
Há software que auxiliam análise de pesquisas qualitativas, através de análise lexical ou outras. Tem o software MAXQDA, ATLAS.ti, Alceste, IRAMUTEC e outros.
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