Does anyone know of an approach to qualitative data analysis that would enable researchers to generate themes, but which does not necessitate line-by-line coding? I am familiar with some of the commonly used approaches, such as Braun and Clarke's (2006) thematic analysis, Charmaz's (2014) constructivist grounded theory and more classic grounded theory methods. However, I'm not convinced that line-by-line coding will actually allow me to generate richer insights and it is also very labor intensive. I have found Thorne's interpretive description useful, but this seems very targeted to applied/clinical research.
For context: I am a graduate student in the area of health communication. I am theoretically oriented towards social constructionism and critical cultural approaches.
Line-by-line coding certainly does not mean that you code every line of text, but regardless of the method you use, but there is currently no substitute for reading the data in qualitative analysis.
If you do feel like experimenting with alternatives, NVivo now offers some tools for a more automated approach to coding. However, my sense is that these are most useful for short answers to open-ended questions, rather than for in-depth interviews.
I agree with David L Morgan. You might find Braun and Clarke's Article Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis
interesting. In any case, I would suggest that Thorne's interpretive description is more a philosophical approach to non-quant methods of "doing science" than a specific methodology.Happy to chat with you further about the work you are doing and how best to approach it.
Brianna - as with most analytical approaches - the labour-intensive work is often front-loaded. For instance, you might find that you need to perform line-by-line coding for your first few transcripts - then perform a more wider 'scanning' after that - in that tentative, early categories and themes may already be emerging - and then you are highlighted to those as you 'skim' the following transcripts. There is a danger with that, of course, though - that you could miss a theme that is not contained in the first few transcripts.
I like Naomi Quinn's approach for looking for lines of reasoning, key words, and metaphors: Quinn, Naomi. 2005. “How to Reconstruct Schemas People Share, From What They Say.” In Finding Culture in Talk: A Collection of Methods, edited by Naomi Quinn, 35-82. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. I agree with Dean Whitehead that coding work often involves close reading at the outset.
In terms of theoretical discussions of approaches to data analysis, the book that I am recommending to fellow faculty and all my students currently is: Freeman, Melissa. 2017. Modes of Thinking for Qualitative Data Analysis. New York: Routledge. She argues that there are four types of analysis that can operate on their own or jointly: categories, narrative, dialectical, and transformative.
In Critical Text Analysis, you read the qualitative transcripts several times, identifying main points in each. This COULD be via a process of line coding, but it could as easily be done via using a highlight market on phrases on the printed text, etc.
Then you compare the main points across your interviews/data sources and group them together to identify those ideas that recur frequently. As you continue to group and categorize, these become your themes.
Thanks everyone! Michael W. Marek the process you describe for Critical Text Analysis is just what I've been looking for. Do you have any citations you recommend for me to read about this? When I do my own searches, I keep coming up with more general critical theory work and critical discourse analysis approaches. Thank you again
Brianna Cusanno - Look at the Data Analysis section of this paper, (para. 2.3). It uses slightly different wording, but "open coding" in the paper refers to what I described above as identifying main points.
When I do open coding, I am not simply looking for main ideas, but rather significant ideas that MIGHT possibly reflect themes, based on my understanding. But a theme must be an idea or a grouping of related ideas which occur several times across the data sources.
The methodology in this paper is based on Creswell, who is a well-known authority on qualitative design.
Feel free to contact me by private message.
Article Meta-analysis of MALL research and design
Brianna Cusanno Thank you for your question. I recommend you the "Qualitative Data Analysis Software: Free Software", produced by ILLINOIS LIBRARY. I enclose the website sit for the program:
https://guides.library.illinois.edu/c.php?g=348074&p=2346107
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